IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 

m  ill 

Sis'  Illitt 

.63 

:':   IS 
1.4 

ilM 

1^ 

I.I 

18 

1.25 

1.6 

Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


(V 


«^ 


^^ 


i\ 


\ 


^9) 


V 


^ 


o^ 


V 


'•i 


3?  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


Q, 


Ua 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 

I — I    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


D 
D 


D 


Couverture  endommagee 

Covers  restored  and/or  lai 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pellicul6e 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  inlt  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


D 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
11  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout6es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  cas  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film6es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires; 


L'institut  a  microfilmd  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  methods  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 


Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolor^es,  tachetdes  ou  piqu^es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  indgaie  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


D 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  film^es  it  nouveau  de  fa^on  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqui  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


v/ 


1 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  of  the  Public 
Archives  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  fllmi  fut  reproduit  grAce  d  la 
g6n4rosit6  de: 

La  bibiiothdque  des  Archives 
publiques  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  Ail 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —»•(  meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

IVIaps,  plates,  charts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  te 
plus  grand  soin.  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  fiimi,  et  en 
conformit6  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimis  sont  film6s  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  «►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  r6duction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  film6  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  i  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

MEMOIRS, 


LETTERS   AND   JOURNALS, 


MAJOR   GENERAL   RIEDESET, 


uuniNo  HIS 


RESIDENCE    IN   AMERICA. 


TRANSLATED 


FROM  THE  OUKilNAl.  uElOIAN  OF  MAX  VON  EELKING. 


WILLIAM   L.    STONE, 

AUTHOR   OP    THE    LIFE    AND    TIMES    OP    SIR  WILLIAM   JOIINSOV,    BART. 
LIFE  AND  WRITINQS  OF  COL.   WILLIAM  L.  STONE,  ETC.,  ETC. 


VOL.    II, 


A  I.  B  A  N  Y  : 

J.  MUNSELL,  83  STATE  STREET. 

1868. 


£ 


Entered  accorcli„,.o  Act  Of  Co„g,.e.i„„„,,„,.,,,3_ 

Br  J.  MlNSELL, 


for  the  Northern  Di.fict  of  New  Y, 


ork. 


SKETCH  OF  MAJ.  GEN.  RIEDESEL. 


1778. 


The  poorest  prospects  wore  now  in  store  for  the  Oernian 
troops;  for  who  would  take  their  part  under  tlieir  present 
circumstances,  so  far  away  from  their  own  land  i*  It  was  evi- 
dent that  congress  had  broken  tlie  treaty.  The  Knjilish  govern- 
ment could  not  consistently  enter  into  direct  negotiations  with 
congress,  as  it  was  unwilling  to  acknowledge  its  auth<irity  ;  and, 
conse([uently,  no  way  could  be  seiii  out  of  the  difficulties  under 
which  the  prisoners  suffered.  It  might  rea.sonably  be  expected 
that  if  any  favors  were  slntwn  by  congress  to  the  troops,  it 
would  be  to  the  English  who  had  hitherto  been  treated  better 
than  the  (Jermans,  a  fact  of  wliich  the  latter  were  well  aware. 
Their  difficulties  were  furthermore  increased  by  the  repeated 
disputes  between  tlie  prisoners  and  the  Americans  by  whom 
they  were  guarded.  Each  party  vied  in  irritating  the  other, 
the  former  being  instigated  by  hatred  towards  those  who  en- 
deavored to  assume  the  appearance  of  soldiers,  a  course  whicli 
only  made  them  ridiculous  as  they  were  anything  but  soldiers, 
and  the  latter  by  arrogance  and  a  desire  of  being  revenged  upon 
those  whom  they  knew  to  be  their  superiors  in  military  matters. 
These  quarrels,  moreover,  occurred  almost  daily,  notwithstand- 
ing the  strictest  orders  of  the  commanders  that  their  men  not 
only  should  hold  no  intercourse  with  the  Americans,  but  ^liould 
not  even  speak  to  them.  These  orders  were  issued  so  that 
there  might  not  bo  the  slightest  pretext  for  a  quarrel.  In  con- 
sequence of  General  IJurgoyne's  re((uest,  some  ol'  the  English 
officers  had  been  already  exchanged,  but  none  of  the  Germans. 
1* 


4  MAJOR  OEXEIiAL  ItlEDEHEL 

(iciU'val  lUiulcscl.  acoordiii^ly.  tliovifilit  it  Itcst  at  tlii.s  tiiiip  to 
apiieal  t(t  (.Jeuoral  Howe.  He,  tlieroibrc,  wrote  to  him  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  CamhkiikJK,  .1  nimin/  7.  177S. 

'•  Vour  exeelloiK-y  will  jieniiit  me  to  solicit  your  proteetion 
ami  assistance  on  behalf  of  the  German  officers  who  were  cap- 
tured durin<4'  tlie  last  campaij;n.  In  con8e<(uence  of  a  rc<|Ue8t 
on  the  part  of  (Jeneral  IJurj^oyne,  Ucneral  dates  has  exchanged 
a  number  of  British  officers  at  Albany;  but,  on  being  asked  to 
exchange,  also,  a  corresponding  number  of  (Jerman  officers,  he 
answered  that  he  could  not  agree  to  an  exchange  of  German 
troops  without  special  orders  I'rom  congress.  This  answer  gives 
to  a  rumor,  now  current  in  this  province,  the  appearance  of 
tr>ith.  that  congress  has  resolved  to  exchange  none  of  the  (Jer- 
man officers  who  were  captured.  Such  a  ros<ilution,  if  true, 
will  make  our  situation  a  sad  and  liumiliating  one,  especially 
since  we  are  thus  deprived  of  the  sanu;  advantages  which  have 
been  accorded  the  other  troops,  and  which  are  customary  in 
war  among  th(»se  serving  the  same  cause,  the  same  master  and 
with  the  same  diligence,  which  latter  fact  has  been  publicly  de- 
clared by  General  IJurgoyne. 

"  I'erfcctly  convinced  of  your  justice  and  fairness.  T  take  the 
liberty  of  addressing  you  and  of  praying  you,  that,  as  the  com- 
mander in  chief  of  the  army  in  America,  you  will  exert  your 
influence  in  our  behalf  to  bring  about  an  exchange  of  captured 
German  officers  with  General  Washington,  equal  in  amount  to 
the  number  of  English  officers  wlio  were  exchanged  by  (general 
Gates.  1  have  the  honor  of  inclosing  a  list  of  the  German 
officers  captured  during  the  last  campaign,  and  would  recom- 
mend to  your  especial  protection  Lieutenant  Colonel  Specht, 
Captain  Fricke,  Captain  (Jeisau,  Lieutenant  Gebhardt,  Lieu- 
tenant Breva  and  Captain  O'Connell,  my  adjutant. 
"  T  remain,  etc., 

"  RiEDESKL,  Major  General." 


I 

I 


/.V  /7/A'  AMUItllAS  UF.Vi>Lirii)S. 


(Icncral  Hiedusel  took  Hpei'ial  pains  to  presorve  his  right  of 
jiirisdictiiiii  over  his  tniops.  and  thus  avoid  giving  any  oausc  to 
till;  Americans  I'or  talking  it  JVoni  him.  I-'or  tliis  jmrposc  tlu; 
preservation  oi'  discipline  was  partienlariy  necessary;  hut  this 
was  hy  no  moans  an  easy  mutter  under  existing  cireuinstances. 
Owing  to  want  of  employment,  tln^soldiin-s  were  mort;  than  tiver 
inclined  to  insuhordination.  For  the  purjiose  of  correcting 
tliis  state  of  things,  the  first  thing  the  (iornian  general  did  was 
to  detach  from  each  regiment,  a  guard,  consisting  of  one  non- 
commissioned officer  and  sixteen  privates,  under  tlie  command 
of  a  lieutenant,  it  was  their  express  duty  to  see  that  ((uiet 
and  order  were  tihserved.  .V  start"  officer,  as  officer  of  the  day, 
had  these  guards  under  his  supervision.  Everything  had  to  be 
reported  to  him.  lie  was  empowcM-ed  to  settle  difficulties 
between  the  soldiers  and  provincials  on  the  spot,  (leneral 
lliedesel,  himself  drtsw  up  the  necessary  instructions,  and  a 
severe  penalty  was  inflicted  upon  those  who  endeavored  to 
thwart  them 

These  prudent  measures  soon  produced  good  results.  Fn  the 
first  place  difficulties  were  thus  nipped  in  the  hud,  and  had, 
therefore,  no  chance  to  grow  larger;  and,  secondly,  the  provin- 
cials saw  that  nothing  which  the  prisoners  did  deserving  punish- 
ment, was  overh)oked.  The  benefit,  also,  arising  from  the  guard 
system  was  soon  seen  in  the  men  being  easier  kept  together, 
and  desertions  hecoming  less  frequent.  The  better,  also,  to 
give  his  men  employment  and  thus  keep  up  discipline,  lliedesel 
obliged  them  to  drill  every  day  in  divisions,  when  the  weather 
allowed  it.  Not  having  any  arms,  they  could  only  go  through 
tlie  evolutions  of  marching ;  b>it  this,  besides  giving  employment 
to  the  men,  kept  them  jjroficient  in  this  kind  of  drill. 

All  officers,  and  those  who  bore  tlie  rank  of  ofKcers,  were 
permitted  to  retain  tlicir  side  arms,  rreueral  TIeath  even 
directed,  in  an  order  issued  Jiinuary  7th,  that  these  arms  should 
be  constantly  carried  whenever  the  officers  went  l)eyond  the 
outposts.     This  was  done  to  obviate  the  necessity  of  their  sliow- 


6 


M.Ualt  lih'X /•://. I/,  ItlUDKSKh 


iiiji'  tliciir  passes  tn  the  iiroviiicials  wlin  (itlicrwiso  wore  rcquinHl 
til  insist  ii|iiiii  st.M.'iri<i'  ail  pMHscs. 

On  Winter  liill  it  was  nut  as  quiet  as  mi  I'l'dSpect  liili.  At 
the  former  place  exeesHeH  grow  inme  anil  more  trequeiit.  Tho 
Anierieans  did  nut  send  tlmsi!  et'  the  Knjilisli  wlumi  they  ar- 
rested, baek  t(i  tlieir  ((uarters,  as  was  tlieir  custdni  with  tiio 
(iernians.  but  dra^^ued  tlieni  either  to  tiio  guard  himso  or  tlio 
guard  slii[)s.  The  I'olidwing  instance  will  serve  to  sliow  tho 
extent  to  whieii  mutual  ill  feeling  liad  grown  : 

On  the  Sth  of  January,  the  American  Colonel  Hawley,  with 
luH  men,  was  on  guard  behind  the  barracks  mi  Prospect  hill. 
In  front  of  one  of  the  barracks  stood  i^ight  Knglish  soldiers 
belonging  to  tho  !>th  Uegiment.  They  wore  engaged  in  conver- 
sation, when  su(blenly  the?  above  mentioned  colonel  ran  in 
among  them  with  a  drawn  dagger  like  a  maniac,  and  in  an 
instant  UKU'tally  wounded  two  of  the  group.  The  cause,  if  any, 
that  led  him  to  commit  this  outrageous  act  has  ever  remained  a 
se.'ret.  The  indignation  and  bitter  feeling  of  the  Kngli.sh 
toward  their  jailors  were  increased  by  this  event  to  the  highest 
pitch;  and  (Jeneral  JJurgoyne,  in  an  energetic  letter,  demanded 
of  General  Heath  the  arrest  of  ('olonel  Ilawloy  and  a  strict 
investigation. 

Oolonel  Hawley  was  publicly  tried  on  the  2()th  of  .January, 
in  the  meetinghouse  at  ("andjridgo.  Brigadier  (ieneral  (Jlover 
presided.  All  the  Kngli.sh  and  (iorman  generals,  also  many 
officers  of  both  sides,  aiul  a  great  number  of  civilians,  wore 
present,  (ieneral  Hurgoyne.  persiuially  appearing  as  plaintiff, 
made  the  complaint  in  a  strong  and  masterly  speech  which 
gained  him  the  admiration  of  all  present.  With  the  close  of 
this  speech,  the  proceedings  terminated  fin*  the  day.  On  the 
1st  of  February,  (^iloncl  Hawley  was  again  arraigned  before 
the  same  tribunal.  The  room  was  tilled,  and  many  witnesses 
were  present,  forty  of  wlioni  were  examined.  The  investigation 
lasted  for  twenty  sessions,  and  occupied  an  entire  month.  The 
Americans  themselves,   considered  Oolonel  Hawley  h)st;    but 


« 


i.\  Till-:  AMKiiia.w  iiKViii.rritix.  7 

their  iii(li;;iiatinii  wiih  ^rcitly  iinTcascd  apiinst  (ioihtmI  niir- 
^■(lyiif  (iir  carryiiij:  tlic  inaftcr.  as  tlicy  tlidiiulit.  t<»i  I'i'i'  *.  mid 
his  siildiors  ciuistMiiiciitly  siiticrcd  I'rdiii  it.  'I'iii'  pri'SM  jpidilisiicd 
iiii|iudoiit,  hiiii|)(MiiiH  and  scdiiit'iil  jpuctry  aj;aiiist  X\w  Kiiiiiisli 
j^eueral.  tliiTol)y  cndi'avdriiijr  to  i*ri>at(!  syirniatliy  liir  tlio  Aiiiiiri- 
eaii  colonel.  I"'inally.  on  tln^  ^.'ith  of  l-'ebniary.  lie  wa.s  hroiijiht 
before  a  eoiirt  martial ;  and  it  will  scareely  be  eredited  that  thin 
court  martial,  consisting,'  only  of  otHeers,  ri,KAUKl>  iiiM.  Xor 
was  this  all ;  for  in  ordi'r  to  crown  American  want(»ruies.s  and 
otVciid  (li'iieral  Uuruoyne  and  all  the  Knfi'lish.  yet  mine,  (admi- 
ral ileatli  a|i|)oiiiled  this  nahli  colonel  commander  of  Cambridu'c'. 
and  con.sei(iieiitly  of  the  two  hills  also  I  Cohmel  iice,  who  had 
liitherto  tilled  this  position,  beini;  absent. 

These  occurrences  had  the  cflect  of  puttinji  (Jenernl  Hiedesel 
still  more  on  his  guard  and  preventiii';'  his  troops  from  com- 
mitting;' excesses,  if  he  and  they  would  preserve  their  indi^ieiid- 
encc  as  nuieh  as  possible.  Accordingly,  lie  issued  the  following 
circular  to  his  troops  : 

"  Kxperience  daily  shows  tliat  the  provincials  on  Prospect 
liill,'  are  depriving  the  regiments  of  their  just  rights,  and  are 
nut  permitting  them  to  preserve  their  own  jurisdiction  as  they 
agreed.  They  ent(^r  into  their  liarracks,  and,  by  force,  either 
arrest  soldiers  and  carry  tliem  to  the  guard  ships,  ki-eping  them 
there  from  eight  to  fourteen  days,  without  giving  to  their 
respective  commanders  the  lea.st  notice,  or  ev(Mi  the  reasons  wliy 
the  soldiers  have  been  arrested.  The  cause  of  this  unjust 
treatment  must  either  originate  in  the  fact  that,  at  the  begin- 
ning, when  the  soldiers  bad  difficulties  with  the  jirovincial.s, 
there  was  on  the  English  side  no  prompt  or  sufficient  satisfaction 
given,  or  that  hard  words  and  actions  have  embittered  the 
provincials  to  such  an  extent,  that  they  now  do  not  keep  the 
promises  to  which  the  treaty  had  bound  them  ;  and.  consecjuently, 


1  It  must  be  kept  in  mind  tliat  tlic  EmkIIhIi  were  qimi'leretl  on  I'l-OBpect  anil  tlic 
tiriniaiiH  on  Wintiv IiiU. 


MA.Iult  (IKSKU.M.  U/i:ii/:-s/:K 


tlu-y  iiro  t'lKli'uvnriii^i    l>_v  llicsi'   li;irf<li    |pru('i'('(linj;s   tu  Imiulilo 
tlii'iii. 

"  It  Ih  iiltfij^ntlu'i-ditVcri'iit  with  tlu' (Jfiiiiiiii  honjis  mi  \\  inter 
hill.  Tho  priiviiicialH  list  iiiir  lu'njdc  and  tlicir  iHiirackH  ali)iu) ; 
ami  in  raso  the  latter  liave  ditlieiilties  with  tlie  iuriner,  and  are 
arreHted.  they  aredelivereil  up  to  our  |Mist ;  tlinse  in  ehari:i'iit'tlieiii 
bt'iiifi  guiierally  sati^lied  with  a  nli^rht  ]nniiHlinient.  N'uw  what 
is  tho  C11U80  of  thin  hnnurahle  diHerenet;  in  the  way  i"  whi(di 
onr  men  are  treated?  Nntiiinj;  Imf  "imkI  diseijiline  on  our  si(h', 
and  iiraine-worthy  vijiilaiiee  of  the  statV  oHieers  to  ;;ive  prompt 
Hatixfaetion  to  the  offended  party.  Thin  I  thankfully  aeknow- 
ledf^e.  Wo  muHt  endeavor  to  presorvo  thin  authority  and 
juriwdietioii.  We  eannot  do  it  by  forco,  fcir  wo  are  under 
oonstant  surveillanei".  I'olitonoss.  modesty  and  promjit  satis- 
faetion  are  the  oidy  nu'aiis  by  whieh  wo  ean  maintain  our 
prorof^ativo.  T/h  n  n/  Jln^t  fi'mr  that  wo  have  tho  misfortune 
to  eansotheni  to  be  dissatisfit^d  with  us  and  with  our  Jurisdiction  ; 
and  the  very  first  tinir  that  tliey  send  a  prisonc-r  to  the  j;uard 
ship,  or  refuse  to  surrender  him  to  uh,  /Inn  our  exemption  is 
forever  lost,  and  henceforth,  tlujy  will  treat  us  in  the  same 
manner  as  they  now  treat  the  l']nf:;lish. 

"  In  order,  however,  to  avoid  even  the  possibility  of  this 
continjioney,  all  comniunieation  betwoon  our  troops  and  tho 
provincials  must  bo  avoided.  The  men  must  bo  modest,  thoujxh 
not  cringing,  toward  the  provincials.  In  case  a  soldier  insults  a 
provincial,  or  is  arrested  by  one  of  them  in  consequence  of  a 
misdemeanor,  the  fact  is  to  bo  reported  to  the  staff  officer  of  the 
day.  and  it  shall  be  his  duty  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  have  tho 
offender  returned  to  us,  promising  prompt  satisfaction.  If  tho 
offense  is  of  such  a  nature  that  it  can  be  punished  without  a 
hearing,  then  the  j)unishment  shall  be  inflicted  in  presence  of 
the  offended  party ;  and  tlu;  penalty  shall  be  such  as  will  satisfy 
the  aggrieved.  In  short,  it  is  the  design  to  have  all  such  cases 
settled  iif  oner,  and  during  the  first  excitement. 

"  As  T  refrain  from  having  any  Jurisdiction  oyer  the  regiment 


Ti 


/.V  T//h'  .l.\/K/i/LA\  ItKVitl.riKt.S. 


,  of  lloHsc  iiniiuu,  it  will  entirely  il(>|ii'ii(l  it]Miti  the  ciiiiiniiiiiiler 
of  that  re^^iiiieiit  to  inllict  the  puiiishiiieiit  ii."!!!!!  witii  (iuit 
re<;iiiK!iit,  and  as  shall  bo  ordered  by  Hrij;adier  (ieiieral  N'nn 
(iail.  This  niininterferenee,  hnwever.  is  based  uii  the  sn^pusi- 
tion  that  the  inisdeniennur  is  of  sueh  a  nature  that  the  nU'ended 
party  is  satistied.  and  we  are  not  put  to  the  ineonvenienee  id' 
beinjj;  rofused  iit  a  sul)sei|uent  time  when  wo  ask  for  the  sur- 
render ut'  a  prisont-r.  The  niannttr  (d'  punishinent  niu.-t  be 
repiirted  to  the  (dlieer  of  the  day,  thai  he  may  be  enabled  to 
report  the  case  and  its  results  {u  \\w. 

'•  Hut  if  af;ainHt  all  our  expei^tations,  theft  i  ,  marauding;  tako 
phico,  then  tht;  returnini;  of,  or  payinj^'  for  su<di  property  shall 
ctuistitute  the  first  proeeedinj,',  and  the  ••  estipiiion  and  [lunish- 
meiit  the  soeond.  In  sueh  a  ease  'Xtra  pains  dmuiil  be  taken 
to  hav)  the  prisoner  returned  to  us,  beeaiiso,  itcordinjj;  to  the 
laws  of  ihis  land,  as  well  as  id' those  of  Hnp,land,  a  thief  must  be 
tried  before  a  civil  authority  and  punished  bv  it.  What  a 
disfiraee  it  would  bi;  if.  contrary  to  our  ri^ht^  and  prerogative, 
a  (Jerinan  soldier  should  be  brought  before  a  civil  magistrate 
and  tried  by  him. 

''  In  order  to  rectify  mistakes  and  jircserve  our  jurisdiction 
to  the  end,  I  hereby  publish  this  lengthy  order,  firndy  believing 


that 
spect. 


each  commander  will  continue  to  enl()rce    it  in  every  re- 


Cambridgo,  February  Ifi,  177S. 


KlKiiK.SKl,,  Major  (ieneral. 


Congress,  by  this  time,  had  thrown  off  all  disgui.s<!  in  regard 
to  the  treaty.  The  same  tone  was  also  held  by  the  official  news- 
papers of  North  America,  publislved  toward  the  latter  end  of 
March,  viz:  that  congress  had  res(dved  to  have  nothing  to  do 
with  the  treaty  of  Saratoga.  Those  prisiuiers.  who  had  not 
hitherto  given  up  all  hope  of  a  speedy  release,  were  now  the 
first  to  give  up.  Accordingly,  desertions  became  more  and  more 
frequent.     This  was,  bowevcr,  more  the  case  with  the  English 


10 


MAJOR  OENEliAL  HIEDESEL 


than  the  Germans ;  yet  even  tlie  latter  had  lost  by  it,  during  the 
last  month,  five  men. 

As  early  as  January,  General  Kiedesel  had  appealed  to  Gene- 
ral Washington  in  regard  to  the  exchange  of  officers.  At  the 
end  of  March,  the  latter  answered  him  as  follows : 

"Head  Quarters,  Valley  Forge,  March  31,  1778. 

"  Sir  :  It  is  sometime  since  I  was  honored  by  your  letter,  dated 
January  11th.  I  would  have  replied  sooner,  had  I  not  been 
obliged  to  wait  for  an  answer  from  General  Gates  in  regard  to 
the  matter  contained  in  your  favor,  lie  says  you  never  applied 
directly  to  him  for  the  exchange  of  youi'self  or  any  German 
officers,  nor  for  that  of  your  family  or  corps ;  but  that  it  was 
currently  reported  at  Albany  that  you  and  Major  General 
Phillips  had  addressed  yourselves  to  Sir  AVilliam  Howe  to  be 
exchanged  for  General  Lee,  and  had  been  answered,  that  as 
General  Prescott  had  first  been  taken,  he  must  be  first  ex- 
changed. ]Jy  your  letter,  I  should  judge  that  General  Gates 
has  misunderstood  you,  as  he  says,  that  he  has  no  objection  to 
an  exchange  of  foreign  as  well  as  liritish  officers. 

"  My  commissioners  are  at  present  negotiating  with  the  com- 
missioners of  General  Howe  for  a  general  exchange  of  prisoners. 
If  these  shall  agree  in  regard  to  the  conditions,  I  shall  not  at  all 
object  to  an  exchange  of  a  part  of  the  foreign  as  well  as  British 
officers.  But  you  will  please  take  notice  that  this  is  a  case 
which  solely  depends  upon  Sir  William  Howe's  pleasure,  as  he 
has  a  right  to  demand  such  officers  as  he  thinks  proper  for 
an  equal  number  of  equal  rank ;  but  I  anticipate  that  justice 
toward  his  allies  will  constitute  the  foundation  of  an  impartial 
exchange. 

.    "  I  have  the  honor  to  be 

"  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

"  Washington." 


A  few  of  the  English  officers  still  retained  a  few  guns  and 


IX  THE  AMEIilUAN  RF.VOLUriOX. 


11 


pistols.  By  the  time  that  this  rumor  reached  General  Heath, 
it  had  gained  so  rapidly  that  it  was  said  that  five  hundred  guns 
and  a  large  quantity  of  other  arms  were  hidden  in  Oeneral  Bur- 
goyne's  house  and  the  barracks.  That  American  general,  being 
not  a  little  scared  at  it,  at  9nce  ordered  a  strict  search  in  the  two 
camps  in  which  Colonel  Ilawley  commanded.  But  after  the 
house  of  G  neral  Burgoyne  and  each  of  the  barracks  had  been 
thoroughly  searched,  and  only  a  few  guns  and  pistols  were 
found,  the  rumor  was  discovered  to  be  false,  and  the  arms  were, 
accordingly,  restored  to  Burgoyne,  with  the  advice  to  keep  them 
in  his  owi;  house.  It  was  generally  thought  that  Colonel  Hawley 
would  act  overbearingly  on  this  occasion ;  but  to  every  one's  sur- 
prise he  acted,  on  the  contrary,  in  a  very  friendly  and  obliging 
manner.  His  course,  however,  was  not  dictated  by  real  good 
will,  but  from  the  simple  reason  that  he  feared  his  person  would 
be  attacked  by  the  incensed  Englishmen. 

A  commissioner,  by  the  name  of  Masserow,  had  been  sent  by 
congress  to  Cambridge,  for  the  purpose  of  witnessing  the  pro- 
ceedings and  reporting  them.  It  was  in  the  power  of  this  man 
to  exercise  a  very  decided  influence,  either  for  weal  or  woe,  upon 
the  troops.  Much,  therefore,  depended  upon  his  favor  or  dis- 
favor. The  prudent  General  Iliedesel  soon  read  the  character 
and  learned  the  circumstances  of  this  man.  He  was  poor  and 
avaricious;  and  was,  therefore,  desirous  of  making  as  much  as 
possible  out  of  his  position  in  order  to  fill  his  empty  purse.  lu 
addition  to  this,  Riedesel  learned  that  he  had  accepted  presents 
from  the  English.  He,  therefore,  did  not  hesitate  to  practice 
the  same  thing,  although  he  detested  the  employment  of  puch 
means  to  accomplish  a  purpose.  But  in  this  instance,  the  wel- 
fare of  his  men  was  at  stake ;  and  he  did  not  wish  to  leave  any- 
thing untried  in  bringing  that  about.  He,~  accordingly,  sent 
the  commissioner  thirty  guineas,  which  were  gladly  accepted  by 
the  latter.  This  sum  was  placed  to  the  account  of  the  troops, 
and  afterward  deducted  from  their  pay  according  to  their  grade. 
It  was  entered  in  the  following  manner : 


•>* 


12 


MAJOR  GENERAL  lilEVESEL 


''  Dt/iiniir  to  t/tf  ravnniifKiourr  of  the  provlnridJn,  nrdvrrd  In/ 
(/riiintl  J^iri/isr/."  Geiioral  Kiedescl  did  not  wish  the  iiauio  of 
the  coininissioner  to  bo  mentioned,  that  the  man  might  not  be 
compromised. 

The  good  result  was  soon  evident.  The  English  officers  also 
endeavored  to  avail  themselves  of  the  corruptibility  of  this  man. 
They  felt  their  situation  to  be  worse  than  that  of  the  Germans, 
inasmuch  as  they  were  more  accustomed  to  various  comforts  and 
recreations.  Consequently,  they  attended  to  their  exchange, 
each  on  his  own  hook,  and  waited  upon  the  commissioner  un- 
known to  IJurgoyne.  For  every  one  that  he  reconnnended  to 
congress,  the  commissioner  charged  from  fifty  to  one  hundred 
guineas;  and,  as  a  matter  of  course,  did  a  good  business.  It 
seems,  moreover,  very  likely  that  Burgoyne  used  this  man's 
influence  in  his  own  behalf;  for,  notwithstanding,  he  was  greatly 
out  of  health,  and,  notwithstanding,  also,  he  had  the  permission 
of  congress  to  return  to  England,  the  fulfillment  of  this  promise 
was  constantly  delayed.  Finally,  however,  on  the  18th  of  March, 
congress  granted  liiui  permission  to  depart,  but  only  on  the  con- 
dition tliat  the  sum  of  40,000  thalers  should  be  paid,  which  sum 
was  charged  for  the  maintenance  of  the  army  up  to  that  time. 
As  there  was  no  money,,  it  was  paid  in  provisions;  General 
Ilowe  sending  ships  from  Ehode  island  laden  with  flour  and 
meat.  By  the  Americans,  this  was  more  desired  than  money; 
for  they  needed  money  less  than  provisions,  as  they  could  easily 
get  along  with  their  paper  currency. 

Cieneral  Uiedesel,  through  Commissioner  JIasserow,  petitioned 
congress  for  permission  to  send  to  Canada  for  the  baggage  and 
clothing  of  his  troops.  This  was  granted;  and  the  condition 
of  the  men  henceforward  was  consequently  much  improved. 

The  American  newspapers,  at  this  time,  announced,  with  much 
parade,  the  alliance  with  France,  and  the  recognition  of  the 
United  States  by  Spain.  IJut  the  immense  armaments  of  Eng- 
land, by  sea  and  land,  put  forth  in  a  great  effort  to  recover  her 
revolted  colonies,  again  poured  wormwood  into  their  cup  of  joy. 


/.v  Tiif:  AMf:itivAy  UKVOLvnax. 


13 


Tender  Admirals  Kcpju'l  and  Hynin,  two  floots  were  equiped ; 
aud  according;  tn  rumor,  oiyhtecn  hundred  men  were  to  be  sent 
out  to  America  as  reenforcenients.      Arnin}j;enients  were  now 
made  to  send  the  captured  troops  to  the  southern  provinces, 
and  to  distribute  them  into  the  interior  of  the  country,  as  it 
was  considered  danf>;erous,  under  the  present  aspect  of  affairs,  to 
keep  them  together  near  the  coast.     The  militia  and  the  (.'onti- 
nental  troops  were,  therefore,  increased.     The  province  of  Mas- 
sacluLsetts  bay.   furnished    for  this  purpose,   three   regiments, 
Colonels  iiee,  Jackson  and  Ilawley  receiving  command  of  them. 
The  light  horse  and  artillery  were,  also,  increased.     The  main 
recruiting  stations  were  in  the  villages  near  the  prisoners,  viz : 
at  Boston,  (^imbridge,  Medford,  Mystic,  .Alanutomie  and  Water- 
town.     These  places  were  not  selected  without  a  cause.     They 
were  chosen  with  the  object  of  more  easily  inducing  the  pri- 
soners to  desert.     This  plan  was  well  laid  as  will  soon  be  seen. 
Certain  individuals  carried  on  a  regular  trade  with  the  Knglisli 
and  (iermau  soldiers,  very  easily  inducing  the  latter  to  leave 
their  camp  under  the  ostensible  plea  of  liiring  them  to  do  their 
spring  work  for  which  they  were  to  be  well  paid  and  boarded. 
Hut  no  sooner  were  they  in  tlie  power  of  the  Americans,  than 
the  latter  told  them  that  they  were  their  prisoners,  and  sold 
them  to  the  recruiting  officers  for  from  two  to  three  hundred 
thalers.     Many  a  one  thus  misled,  led  a  miserable  existence, 
from  which  they  were  only  relieved  by  death.     The  American 
(uitposts  for  tlie  purpose  of  aiding  the  desertions,  suffered  the 
men  to  go  beyond  the  chain  whenever  they  desired  to  do  so. 
Indeed,  they  even  went  so  far  as  to  hold  out  by  false  repre- 
sentations, every  inducement  to  the  soldiers  to  desert.'  whenever 
the  latter,  contrary  to  orders,  spoke  with  them.     The  Bruns- 
wick  commanders,   however,  could   not  complain  of  desertion 
during  this  month;   for  only  three  soldiers  proved  untrue  to 


'  XTp  to  Ai)ril  nth,  six  Imiidrod  and  lll'ty-rtve  of  the  En<;Ii»h  had  deaerted,  ol  the 
Oermans,  one  hiiiidrcd  and  ninclocn  men,  and  of  the  llc<<si!  Ilanuu.  forty-one  men. 
Total  eight  hundred  aud  tilleen  men.— xVote  to  original. 


14 


MAJOJi  GENERAL  lilEDESEL 


their  oaths,  while  the  English,  since  the  17tli  of  October,  lost 
six  hundred  and  fifty  men. 

On  the  5th  of  April,  General  Burgoyne  loft  Rhode  island  to 
return  to  England.  The  day  previous  to  his  departure  he  took 
an  affectionate  farewell  of  the  army,  thanking  them  warmly  for 
their  good  conduct  and  bravery.  IJefore  his  embarkation  he 
handed  General  Riedoscl  a  letter  addressed  to  the  duke  of 
Brunswick,  in  which  he  bestowed  special  praise  upon  the  troops 
of  the  latter,  and  stated  that  he  considered  himself  most  fortu- 
nate in  having  had  them  under  his  command.  This  deserved 
tribute  came  too  late ;  but  it  seems  that  misfortune  had  made 
the  general  more  just  in  his  views  than  in  time  past.  General 
lliedcsel,  in  consequence  of  this,  issued  to  his  troops  the  follow- 
ing circular : 

"General  Uurgoyne  has  commissioned  General  lliedcsel  to 
return  his  thanks  to  all  the  Brunswick  troops  for  the  bravery, 
good  will,  discipline  and  subordination  which  they  have  shown 
during  the  last  campaign,  and  during  the  time  that  they  have 
been  under  his  command.  He  has  also  directed  General  llied- 
csel to  tell  them  that  he  regrets  to  leave  these  brave  troops,  and 
that  he  will  not  fail  to  bear  the  same  testimony  before  his  king 
as  soon  as  he  arrives  in  England,  as  the  greatest  share  of  credit 
is  due  to  the  commanders  of  the  regiments  and  the  officers,  he 
tenders  them,  in  an  especial  manner,  his  greatest  thanks,  and 
will  be  happy,  if  an  occasion  presents  itself,  to  show  them  his 
friendship  and  esteem. 

'•  General  Burgoyne  has  also  written  to  his  most  serene  high- 
ness, the  duke,  our  most  kind  lord,  a  letter,  in  which  he  speaks 
in  the  highest  terms  of  praise  of  the  troops,  and  states  that  he 
considers  himself  happy  in  having  had  such  brave  troops  under 
his  command. 

"  I  was  desirous  of  publishing  this  compliment  of  the  general 
to  all  the  troops ;  and  1  here  express  the  great  joy  which  I 
experience  in  having  the  honor  of  conniianding  such  troops 
who  thus  cause  and  merit  such  universal  satisfaction. 


/.V  THE  A  ME m CAN  REVOLUTION. 


15 


"  Lotters  reeeiveil  from  Enj^land  cannot  describu  tho  lionor, 
glory  and  satisfaction  which  is  expressod  toward  tho  army  of 
General  Burgoyne,  notwithstanding  tho  sad  situation  in  which 
it  was  placed  by  the  superior  numbers  of  the  enemy.  Kach 
soldier  may,  theref(ire,  rest  assured  that  he  can  return  to  his 
country  with  the  greatest  honor.  And  what  joy  will  it  be  when 
I  can  surrender  these  brave  men  to  my  gracious  sovereign,  and 
be  able  to  report  to  him  the  good  behavior  of  this  excellent 
corps.  Neither  misery,  nor  want,  nor  frost,  nor  heat  can  bo 
hard  or  severe  enough  to  prevent  us  from  being  constant  in 
view  of  the  luniorable  and  glorious  prospect  wo  have  before  us. 

"  ]{ut  with  what  pain  must  I  not  see  that  every  little  while 
men  leave  their  regiments  and  their  officers,  with  the  idea  of 
having  an  easier  and  better  life  than  their  comrades,  and  that 
only  for  a  few  months,  committing,  tlierefore,  perjury  against 
their  God,  their  sovereign,  myself  and  their  officers ;  and  losing, 
moreover,  the  glory  and  honor  and  gratitude  which  otherwise 
would  await  them  in  their  homes.  "Which  is  better,  to  bo  false 
now  and  desert,  and,  after  the  war,  be  a  slave,  or  to  live  hero  with 
the  officers  and  soldiers  for  a  short  time  in  misery,  and  return 
afterward  as  an  honored  and  brave  soldier  to  his  own  people, 
and  be  able  in  peace  and  (juiet  to  recall  one's  good  actions  ? 

"  I  therefore,  exhort  all  the  brave  soldiers,  considering  them 
my  comrades,  and  loving  them  as  my  children,  to  reflect  and 
act  as  becomes  a  good  soldier,  and  give  up  all  thoughts  of  de- 
sertion ;  and  should  there  be  evil  disposed  men  in  the  corps,  I 
hereby  admonish  all  tho  good  ones  to  keep  a  vigilant  eye  on 
these,  in  order  that  the  already  achieved  glory  of  the  whole 
corps  may  not  be  dimmed  by  such  shameful  desertions. 

"  I  hereby  declare  that  I  am  resolved  to  live  and  die  with 
those  bravo  troops,  to  share  with  them  manfully,  prosperity  and 
adversity,  misery  and  sorrow ;  and.  furthermore,  that  I  lihall 
never  accept  an  opportunity  of  being  exchanged,  even  if  it 
should  be  offered  to  me,  unless  it  bo  in  obedience  to  the  com- 
mand of  my  sovereign ;  but,  on  tho  contrary,  to  remain  here 


16 


MA.Ion  UENEllAL  HIKDESEL 


until  T  liiivo  the  j^ood  fortune  to  tnkt!  these  brave  Hohliers  with 
nie,  and  share  with  them  at  home  the  honor  whicli  we  have 
gained  here  in  the  uiidst  of  misfortune. 

"  lliKDESKi-,  Major  General. 
"  Cambridge,  April  4,  1778." 


This  order  was  read  to  each  battalion  at  the  evening  parade. 

lliedesel  gave  to  the  adjutant  general  of  l?urgoyne,  Major 
Kingston,  several  di.spatehes  and  letters  to  his  sovereign  and 
others  in  Europe.' 

Fp  to  this  time  not  a  single  (jcrman  officer  had  been  ex- 
changed. However,  two  Knglish  lieutenant  colonels,  Amstru- 
ther  and  Southerland  were  permitted  to  go  on  parole  to  Hhodo 
island,  that  they  might  the  better  arrange  with  Oeneral  Howe 
for  their  exchange,  (ioncral  Philliiis,  together  with  the  staff 
officers  of  Burgoyne,  had  already  been  exchanged.  IMiillips, 
who,  after  the  departure  of  Hurgoyne,  had  the  ai)parent  com- 
mand over  the  captured  troops,  although  an  honorable  man  and  ' 
friendly  to  lliedesel,  had  not  a  particle  of  influence  as  far  as 
regarded  the  exchange  of  prisoners  ;  the  commander  in  chief, 
Howe,  having  this  under  his  special  charge,  lliedesel  bitterly 
complained  to  the  latter  of  the  course  which  things  had  lately 
taken;  whereupon  he  promised  to  observe  the  strictest  im- 
partiality in  the  exchange  of  the  troops  of  both  nations.  This 
last  remark,  it  must  here  be  understood,  refers  only  up  to  the 
present  date  of  the  captivity.  Henceforth  General  Phillips 
issued  proper  orders  to  his  troops  to  do  nothing  toward  effecting 
their  exchange,  without  obtaining  his  consent. 

The  inactivity  of  camp  life  among  the  Germans,  besides 
increasing  desertion,  augmented  another  evil,  viz  :  the  passion 
for  gambling.  The  following  order  of  General  lliedesel,  upon 
this  subject,  explains  itself: 


•  Gonornl  Uiodosi'l  i;iivo  nil  tlu'  lotlors  to  llio  luljutiiiil  j,'<'ii*'iiil,  iiiiHoalod.  liolioviiig 
tluit  nil  i)ai)ors  would  bo  iiispootod  at  Hi(stoii.  lie,  thcrufuiv,  unli'ivd  Major  Kings- 
ton to  i^cal  tlieni  ill  liliodo  island.—  Xoh'  to  oriijiital. 


"1 


AV  TIIK  AMKIIK'AX  UKVOLVTIOX. 


17 


"Ohdkr  of  Ai'HiL  11,  1778. 

"T  am  i)(!vt'cc'tly  willinji,'  to  alldw  all  iniidcoiit  aiiiuseiiiciits 
that  tilt!  troops  may  choose  to  provide  for  themselvos,  for  tho 
purpose  >f  passing  away  the  time  in  the  present  inactive  situa- 
tion, (^nc  of  these  enjoyments  is  the  <.'ame  of  ten  pins,  which 
benefits  th(!  body  by  the  exercise  of  the  muscles  in  a  particular 
manner.  IJut  T  am  <>rieved  to  learn  that  the  common  soldiers 
play  for  piasters  and  even  for  guineas  ;  for  the  result  of  this  is, 
that  men.  who  have  saved  a  little,  lose  it  at  once ;  others  auain, 
run  in  debt,  and  after  losing  their  money  and  fearing  to  get 
into  difficulty  with  their  creditors,  desert,  tlius  entering  into 
perpetual  slavery,  (ieneral  Kiede.sel  is  so  well  informed  in 
regard  to  this  state  of  things,  that  he  is  well  acquainted  with 
the  fact  that  one  soldier,  last  week,  lost  nine  guineas  in  one, 
day.  and  then  deserted. 

"  General  Riedesel  does  not  prohibit  playing  at  ten  pins,  but 
he  does  not  wish  his  men  to  play  for  money ;  indeed,  this,  in 
the  common  soldier,  is  already  f(n'bidden  in  the  '  regulations.' 
The  commanders  of  battalions  will,  thercft)re,  issue  strict  orders 
prohibiting  playing  at  ten  pins  for  money,  and  the  officers  are 
hereby  enjoined  to  watch  those  of  the  company  who  shall 
disobey  this  order.  Tt  shall,  also,  be  announced  to  the  different 
companies,  that  those  who  have  lost  piasters  and  guineas,  are 
at  once  to  report  it,  when  the  commanders  are  to  see  that  the 
money  lost  is  returned.  Those,  who  in  future  shall  be  caught 
playing  for  money,  will  be  .severely  punished. 

•  IviKDKSKi,.  ]SIajor  (ieneral. 

"  Cambridge,  April  11,  1778." 


On  the  11th  of  April,  General  Phillips  received  intelligence 
from  the  governor  at  l^oston,  that  congress  had  resolved  to 
send  the  English  tnjops  into  a  section  of  country  lying  within 
the  province  of  IMassachusetts  bay.  Accordingly,  on  the  15th, 
the  English  artillery  and  light  infantry,  together  with  a  detach- 


'^ 


18 


MAJOn  OENKIiA  L  lilEDESEL 


nient  of  the  33(1  Reginioiit  as  bclonginj;  to  the  artillery  and  the 
army  of  (Jeiicral  Tlowe,  marched  to  llutlaiid,  where  some  bar- 
racks had  been  erected  in  great  haste. 

After  tlic  departure  of  the  English  troops,  the  recruiting  offi- 
cers at  Boston  carried  on  their  business  almost  exclusively  among 
the  Germans.  The  generality  of  these  recruiting  officers  were 
good  for  nothing  (iermans.  who,  by  all  kinds  of  representations, 
induced  their  countrymen  to  become  renegades  to  their  duty. 
This  state  of  things,  moreover,  was  increased  by  the  fact  that 
a  French  adventurer,  named  Armand,  who  was  tolerably  fami- 
liar with  the  (ierman  language,  intended  to  raise  a  light  corps. 
This  man.  aided  by  the  garrulity  and  frivolity  peculiar  to  his 
nation,  did  his  best  to  convince  the  good  naturcd  and  credulous 
German  of  the  happiness  of  a  volunteer  who  should  serve  under 
him.  The  provincials,  also,  whose  duty  it  was  to  watch  the 
German  soldiers,  furthered  desertion  in  every  possible  way; 
and,  as  a  consequence,  the  recruiting  officers  grew  more  bold 
and  impudent  every  day.  They  would  not  allow  either  officers 
or  noncommissioned  officers  to  pursue  runaways  across  the  chain. 
Yea,  some  of  these  who  endeavored  to  perfiu-m  their  duty  in  this 
particular,  were  grossly  insulted.  General  lliedescl  used  all  the 
means  in  his  power  to  stop  this  evil.  For  instance,  he  had  several 
provincials,  who  had  crept  into  the  barracks  of  the  soldiers,  and 
endeavored  by  the  use  of  liquor,  to  induce  the  men  to  desert, 
kicked  out  and  forbidden,  henceforth,  from  entering  the  camp ; 
certainly  a  queer  fact,  for  prisoners  to  treat  their  overseers  in 
such  a  manner  I  Ricdesel,  also,  oifered  a  full  pardon  to  such  as 
would  voluntarily  return ;  and  the  result  was  that  several  of  the 
deserters,  finding  themselves  terribly  deceived,  came  back,  bring- 
ing with  them  a  frightful  description  of  the  misery  they  had 
endured  in  following  their  wanton  inclination.  Riedesel  did 
not  omit,  at  the  roll-call,  to  have  such  step  in  front  and  exhibit 
them  to  the  soldiers  as  striking  examples  of  the  result  of  deser- 
tion. Yet,  it  must  be  admitted  on  the  other  side,  that  the 
wages  given  by  the  inhabitants  offered  a  strong  inducement  to 


"^ 


/.V  TIfK  .UfK/ilVAJV  REVOLUriOy. 


19 


desertion.  Accordingly,  to  counteract  this  list  powerful  stimulus, 
Kiedusel  iif^reed  with  (reneriil  lleuth  to  give  the  farmers  of  the 
neighboriuf:;  villages  men  who,  while  working  for  them,  should 
be  provided  with  passes,  and  report  once  a  week,  on  Thursday, 
at  roll-call.  In  this  way,  the  troops  could  earn  something,  and 
have  a  pleasant  change  without  being  unfaithful  to  their  country. 
This  arrangement  was  henceforth  kept  up  and  proved  very  good. 
During  the  month  of  April,  f(jrty-five  men  deserted  from  the 
Brunswick  regiments. 

Desertion,  which,  among  the  German  troops,  might  be  called 
moderate  considering  the  circumstances,  suddenly,  toward  the 
end  of  May,  increased  to  such  an  extent,  that  sometimes  six 
men  ran  away  in  one  day.  The  cause  of  such  an  extraordinary 
state  of  things  was  soon  ascertained.  It  seems  that  emissaries 
had  circulated  a  printed  handbill  in  (Jerman  and  English 
among  the  soldiers,  in  which  the  rewards  to  be  obtained  by 
desertion  were  set  out  in  the  most  enticing  light.  This  pecu- 
liar proclamation,  so  unique  of  its  kind,  and  a  real  offspring  of 
revolution,  which  is  always  very  liberal  in  promises  to  the 
credulous,  is  here  given  as  illustrating  the  manner  in  which 
good  soldiers  were  entrapped : 

"  Done  in  Congress,  April  9,  1778. 
"  To  those  officers  and  soldiers  in  the  service  of  the  kiiHj  of  Great 
Britain  who  are  not  the  subjects  of  the  above  named  king: 
''  The  sons  of  freedom  of  the  United  States  are  carrying  on  a 
just  and  necessary  war,  in  whicli  they  are  not  the  only  interested 
persons.  They  are  fighting  for  the  rights  of  mankind,  and  deserve, 
therefore,  the  protection  and  the  aid  of  all  men.  Their  success 
will  procure  for  those,  who  desire  to  satisfy  their  consciences  and 
enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  labor,  an  asylum  against  persecution  and 
tyranny. 

'•There  is  no  doubt  that  a  kind  providence  which  often 
works  good  out  of  apparent  evil  (having,  for  instance,  permitted 
us  to  be  engaged  in  this  cruel  war,  and  having  forced  you  to 
3* 


^r^ 


20 


MAJOn  OEXKnAL  niEDKSEL 


assist  our  oncinics  in  the  vuin  attempt  to  ciihIiivc  us)  dcHif^us 
osttiMLsliiii^  ])orfoct  liberty  on  thiw  continent  for  all  those  that 
arc  bowed  down  by  the  heavy  yoke  of  tyranny.  In  conHidera- 
tiou  of  your  beinf^  forced  a<;ainHt  your  will  to  become  the  tools 
of  avarice  and  andjition,  we  will  not  only  forgive  you  for  those 
acts  against  ns  into  which  you  have  been  forced,  but  will,  also, 
offer  you  a  part  in  the  i)rero}j;atives  of  free  and  independent 
states.  Great  and  fertile  countries,  which  will  richly  rei)ay 
your  industry,  invite  you.  Tracts  of  from  twenty  to  thirty 
thousand  acres  of  land  will  be  apportioned  and  given  to  sucli 
as  shall  come  over  to  our  side  in  the  following;  manner  : 

"  Each  captain,  who  will  bring  to  us  on  the  1st  of  September, 
1778,  forty  men  from  the  service  of  the  enemy  shall  receive 
eight  hundred  acres  of  good  woodland,  four  oxen,  one  bullock,^ 
throo  cows  and  four  pigs.  Kach  noncommissioned  officer,  who 
brings  parties  of  men,  shall  receive  an  additional  present  of 
twenty  acres  of  land  for  each  new  man;  and  every  soldier  who 
comes  without  a  commissioned  or  noncommissioned  officer  shall 
receive  fifty  acres  of  land.  If  he  brings  his  own  equipment  he 
shall  be  entitled  to  an  additional  present  of  twenty  thalers. 
These  officers  and  soldiers  will  be  allowed  at  once  to  attend  to 
their  land  without  being  obliged  to  serve;  and  they  will  re- 
ceive, in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  their  land,  provisions  for 
six  weeks.  Such  commissioned  and  noncommissioned  officers 
as  shall  serve,  wil'  be  promoted  in  those  corps  that  are  composed 
of  native  Germans,  or  iirthose  corps  hereafter  to  be  raised  by 
(Jermans  living  here.  These  corps  shall  do  no  other  service, 
unless  they  desire  it,  than  act  as  guards  at  a  distance  from  the 
enemy,  or  as  garrisons  on  the  western  frontier. 

"  Those  among  you  who  are  skilled  artisans  will,  besides  their 
land  and  other  articles,  find  abundance  of  riches  in  the  pursuit 
of  their  business,  the  necessaries  of  life  being  very  cheap  in 
comparison  with  the  prices  paid  for  manufactures,  and  there 
being  such  a  demand  for  men  that  each  mechanic  can  find 
plenty  of  work. 


l!|- 


r\  77/ A'  AMERICAN  ItEVOLVTlnS. 


21 


"  Soino  (if  you  hiivo  had  an  oppnrtuiiity  i>f'  tosfin^  tho  truth 
of  tho,><(s  rispre.seritutidii.s,  and  will,  withnut  doubt,  iutitnn  your 
c'ountryujoii  and  acfjuaiutauees  uf  tiioir  corroctnoHH.      llithertd, 
wc  have  met  you  on  the  battle  field  with  an  inimical  heart, 
caused  by  the  principles  of  defense  ;  but  wheiu^ver  the  fortune 
of  war  has  bro\iji;ht  any  of  your   countrymen  into  our  hands, 
our  hostility  was  immediately  at  an  end,  and  wo  have  treated 
them  more  like  free  subjects  than  as  prisoners.     Wo  can  here 
refer  to  their  own  testimony ;  and  we  now  call  upon  you  as  part 
of  the  great  family  of  mankind  whose  liberty  and  happiness  we 
are  endeavoring  with  great  honesty  to  secure.     Manifest  your 
detestation  (if  remaining  longer  the  tools  of  mud  ambition  and 
lawless  f(jrce  1     Appreciate  the  dignity  and  grandeur  of  your 
nature  I     E.xalt  yourselves  to  the  rank  of  free  people  of  free 
states  !     Desist  from  your    vain    endeavors    t(j  devastate    and 
depopulate  a  country  which  you  cannot  conquer,  and  accept 
that  of  our  magnanimity  which  you  can  never  ohtain  from  our 
fear !     Wc  are  willing  to  receive  you  with  open  arms  to  the 
bosom  of  our  country.     Come,  therefore,  and  partake  of  the 
good  which  we  offer  you  in  all  candor. '     In  the  name  of  these 
free  and  independent  states,  we  promise  and  assure  you  a  free 
and  uninterrupted  exercise  of  your  religion,  perfect  protection 
of  your  persona  against  injury,  undisturbed  possession  of  the 
fruits  of  your  honest  labor,  and  absolute  possession  of  your 
lands  which  shall  go  down  to  your  children  unless  you  other- 
wise will  it. 

"  Henry  Laukens. 
"  Attested  by 

"  Charles  Thomson,  Secretary." 


The  object  which  congress  intended  to  accomplisli  by  this 
proclamation  can  readily  be  seen.  From  it  no  small  results 
were  expected.     After  repeated  reports,  an  English  fleet  arrived 


1  Or  more  literally,  "  which  we  oft'er  you  willi  a  caiulld  heart." 


^ 


22 


MAJOli  (IKSKKA  I.  HlKUmKL 


with  twenty  thoUMiUKl  troojm,  who  wore  to  rconforco  tho  Mritinh 
nrniy  in  Aniorii'ii ;  tin  event  which  \l\\.\m  no  littlo  iippreht'iiwion 
to  tho  AniericanH  in  view  of  a  HiicfOHsriil  termination  of  tiieir 
enuHo.  They  intendtMl  not  <inly  to  ri<l  theniHolveH  of  the  prinon- 
orH,  by  indm-ini;  dcMcrtioii,  and  thuH  wave  tiie  expenwe  of 
jn'oviHioniiig  and  guarding  thcni,  bnt  alHo  to  induce  desertion 
among  thoHc  troopH  that  were  in  Canada  and  under  Howe,  and 
thereby  weaken  tlie  royal  army  an  niiieh  a«  poHwibU'.  How 
little  congreHH  knew  Kuropean  soldiers  is  evident  fr  im  the  fact 
of  its  holding  out  as  an  inducement  the  promise  that  they 
should  be  stationed  as  far  from  the  entsniy  as  possible.  Or,  did 
congress  have  in  view  the  fate  which  awaited  deserters  should 
they  again  fall  into  the  hands  of  their  old  commanders  '/  Jiut 
congress  made  other  promises  which  it  was  powerless  to  fulfill, 
and  which,  moreover,  could  only  have  been  believed  by  those 
who  were  unac(|uainted  with  the  peculiar  circumstances  incident 
to  this  foreign  land.  If,  for  instance,  it  is  difficult  even  at  this 
late  day  for  the  American  government  to  protect  the  lives  aiul 
property  of  emigrants  in  distant  and  uncultivated  districts,  it 
was  certainly  much  more  difficult  in  those  days  when  every- 
thing was  in  its  infancy,  to  say  nothing  of  its  being  in  a  time 
of  war.  Supposing,  however,  that  a  soldier  had  accepted  the 
proposition  and  taken  possession  of  his  land  in  those  vast 
deserts,  what  could  he  havo  done  with  it  ?  He  had  no  tools, 
seeds,  nor  cattle;  and  if  anything  had  happened  to  him,  who 
was  there  to  assist  him  '{  Thus  many,  who  availed  themselves 
of  this  offer,  were  plunged  into  terrible  misery. 

This  presumption  of  the  Americans  soon  degenerated  into 
impudence.  They  not  only  busily  circulated  the  proclamation, 
dressing  it  in  the  uiost  tempting  language,  but  they  posted  it 
on  houses  by  the  roadside,  and  even  in  the  camp  upon  the  bar- 
racks and  the  houses  of  the  .sentinels.' 


'  Tlio  above  named  French  adventurer,  Arniand,  carried  this  iinipnncc  ho  far,  as  to 
have  some  deserters,  who  had  vohintuered  under  liiin,  chid  In  a  fantastic  garb  and 
driven  across  Winter  hiii,  in  order  to  show  their  old  comrades  whata  good  fate  they 


/.V  TltK  AMtCRUAN  liKVOLVTIOS, 


23 


fion»>ral  HicilcHcl  Hdii^'lit.  in  ovory  ])(msihlo  way,  ♦"•  |»iit  n  ^*"P 
to  tliiw  iiuiHuiK't!.  Ho  tirxt  applicil  to  i\w  AiiK'ricun  i'olont!l, 
Hardy,  who,  liaviiig  succcodcd  ( 'oloiiel  fioo.  ii(»w  coiimiandod  at 
Wiiitor  liill.  Spoakinj;  of  thiw  nffict-r.  (l('iK'ral  HifdcHcl  says 
liiiiiHt'lf,  tliat  111!  vm  tilt!  HrHt  Aiiioricaii  (iffu-er  \w  had  met, 
wlioiii  h(!  could  Dstwiii  for  his  uiiHolfishiieHH  and  honoraliK) 
cliaractcr.  Tlii.s  ooloiiul  at  oiico  r)rdorcd  that  tlio  above  inoii- 
tionod  proclaiuatioii  nhouhl  bo  torn  ihiwn.  and  wan,  btssidi'S, 
very  indifjiiaiit  at  tliu  whoK;  affair. 

Iiidt-ed,  UiedcHcl,  both  in  writinj^  and  Hpoakinj:,  addnwHt'd 
);!■*  soldicrH  in  a  jKiwerful  and  touching  manner.  Both  lio  and 
leneral  Phillips,  who,  by  tho  way,  waH  a  groat  I'avorito  with  tho 
Oernian  HoldierH,  visitod  tho  barracks  almost  daily  ;  indeed  rv,.ry 
possible  means  for  the  prevention  of  desertion  was  employed. 
Uetween  tho  barracks  and  tho  chain  of  American  outposts  on 
tho  road  beyond,  noncommissioned  officers  were  stationed.  It 
was  necessary  to  take  tho  latter  for  this  purpose,  as  none  of 
tho  privates  could  be  trusted.  This  service,  however,  proving 
too  severe  for  the  old  officers,  new  ones  had  to  be  employed. 
Every  soldier  caught  outside  tho  barracks  without  a  pass  signed 
by  the  commandant  of  his  regiment,  was  at  once  arrested  and 
tried. 

Colonel  Hardy,  believing  that  the  seductive  proclamation  of 
congress  was  designed  more  for  the  Kngli.sh  army,  still  in  the 
field,  than  for  the  prisoners,  was  so  kind  as  to  offer  to  arrest  all 
German  deserters  who  wore  found  beyond  the  prescribed  limits. 
Thereupon,  General  Riodesel,  who  know  of  six  deserters  being 
hidden  at  Mystic,  ro(|uestod  Hardy  to  arrest  them  at  once ;  and 
being  exceedingly  anxious  to  have  them  returned  for  the  sake 
of  the  example,  he  wrote  at  tho  same  time  to  General  Heath 


hadmvt  with.  But  those,  who  thiiH  rode  about,  did  not  state  that  the  carriages  had 
boon  hired,  and  that  not  all  the  soldiers,  belonging  to  tho  corps,  wore  dressed  In 
such  uniforms.  Tlieso  facts  show  the  demoralization  already  existing  among  a 
portion  of  tho  troops,  the  deserter  feeling  no  shame  in  showing  himself  again  to 
his  old  comrades  and  oHicers.—  Note  to  the  orir/inal. 


F"iP 


24 


MA.lOlt  OKXEIiA  A  JIIKDKSEL 


roiiuoMtiiifz;  liiiii  tn  jj;niiit  tlioir  rotuiii.  Ili^iitli  aii»woro(l  tlmt 
tlio  (UiScrterH  would  bo  returned  in  two  days.  JJut  tliis  was  not 
meant  in  earnoHt ;  for  the  sanio  day  they  were  taken  under 
guard  to  I'rospect  hill  and  allowed  to  escape.  RiedoHel,  natu- 
rally very  indignant,  complained  of  this  breach  of  faith  in  the 
strongest  language,  but  to  no  purpose. 

Lieutenant  ('olonel  Speclit,  who  had  hitherto  been  a  prisoner 
at  Hartford,  received  —  chiefly  through  the  interposition  of 
lliedesel  with  the  commissioner  —  permission  to  proceed  to 
New  Vork  on  parole  on  account  of  his  health.  Hiedesol  re- 
quested Iiiiii  while  on  the  journey,  to  imjuire  into  the  circum- 
stances of  the  other  prisoners,  and  report  the  facts  to  him.  In 
pursuance  of  this  order,  in  a  letter  written  front  Chatham  under 
date  of  April  28,  he  draws  a  sad  picture  of  their  condition.  He 
found  most  of  the  prisoners  covered  with  vermin,  their  clothing 
worn  out,  and  themselves  otherwise  in  a  lamentable  condition. 

On  the  ISth  of  May,  the  19th  English  regiment  was  ordered 
to  march  to  Uutland. 

On  the  2!)th  of  May,  sonic  Brunswick  oflficers  succeeded  in 
capturing  a  deserter  on  the  way  from  Cambridge  to  Watertown. 
This  deserter  belonged  to  lliedescl's  own  regiment.  The  poor 
fellow,  as  being  the  first  caught,  had  to  suft'er  as  an  example 
for  all  future  deserters.  The  punishment,  a  hard  one  for  those 
days,  was  administered  in  the  presence  of  all  the  troops.  The 
man  was  tied  to  a  post ;  thirty  lashes  were  given  him ;  his  hair 
was  then  cut  oif ;  after  wliich  he  was  turned  loose  as  dishonored. 
The  Americans  (juietly  witnes.sed  the  scene  until  it  was  finished ; 
when  the  JJrunswickers  plainly  saw  the  American  recruiting  offi- 
cers meet  the  deserter  on  the  other  side  of  the  chain,  and  carry 
him  oft"  in  triumph  as  a  murti/r  to  libcrfi/. 

This  punishment,  however,  had  the  eft'ect  of  preventing  de- 
sertion for  a  while ;  but  the  Urunswickers  nevertheless,  lost 
seventy-three  men  during  this  month. 

Toward  the  end  of  the  month,  little  circulars,  printed  in  (Jfr- 
man.  were  distributed.     Their  purport  was  as  follows: 


I  If  rilE  AM  Kilt  CAN  IlEVOLUTIOff. 


25 


"lletiolvcd  ill  CongrcHS,  Mm/  22,  1778. 
"  Thai  it  bo  recoinnicndod  to  the  governments  of  tlio  several 
states  the  pas.Siigc  of  laws,  by  which,  ail  those  wlio  have  deserted, 
or  shall  desert  during  the  present  war  from  the  Knglish  army  or 
navy,  shall  be  free  fn)ni  militia  service.  That  it  be  fnrther 
recommended  to  the  governments  of  the  several  states  to  declare 
all  prisoners  and  deserters  incompetent  to  servo  as  substitntcs 
in  the  militia  during  the  present  war,  and  further,  to  declare 
void  all  agreements  in  this  respect,  and  to  empower  those  pri- 
soners and  deserters,  who  have  agreed  to  go  as  substitutes,  to 
keep  the  money  they  have  received  for  this  purpose,  for  their 

own  uso. 

"CiiARiiES  Thomson,  Secretary."  ' 

By  this  it  was  intcMided  to  encf)urage  deserters  to  become 
citizens  of  the  Tnited  States,  as  they  were  thus  exempted  from 
performing  the  militia  duty  to  which  every  native  was  subject. 
Captain  1  lardy  was  kind  enough  to  show  the  above  circular  to 
Captain  Poelnitz  on  the  same  day  on  which  the  six  deserters 
were  arrested. 

On  the  lltli,  three  English  commissioners  arrived  in  America, 
for  the  purpose  of  seeing  if  a  peaceable  solution  of  these  diffi- 
culties could  not  be  arrived  at.  These  were  Carlisle,  Eden  and 
John:-ton.  Congress,  however,  did  everything  U^  ])revent  tlieir 
having  a  hearing. 

The  Dth  English  regiment,  which  was  ordered  to  Rutland, 
started  on  the  1st  of  June,  but  as  .11  the  officers  could  not  be 
furnished  with  lodgings,  it  was  commanded  only  by  a  captain, 
only  one  lieutenant  remaining  with  each  company. 

On  the  1st  of  June,  the  following  general  order  of  General 
Phillips  was  read  to  the  (Jerman  prisoners  at  their  camp : 

"  The  constant  and  continually  increasing  desertion  induces 
General  Phillips  to  believe  that  our  enemies  have  found  oppor- 


'  Extriict  from  the  document  printed  at  Lancaster  by  Fred.  Bailey. 


^^ 


rrr 


26 


StAJOn  QENEIiAL  RIEDESEL 


tuiiiticH  to  distribute  in  our  barracks  specious  promises  regarding 
the  pay  which  will  be  given  our  soldiers,  in  case  they  desert. 
lie  believes  that  in  this  way  some  soldiers  are  blinded  and  led 
off  into  perpetual  slavery. 

"  What  can  a  Gorman  win  in  a  country  where  nothing  circu- 
lates but  paper  money  ?  What  frightful  taxes  will  the  inhabit- 
ants of  this  country  have  to  pay  after  peace  is  declared  in 
order  to  liquidate  the  public  debt  ?  What  labor,  for  a  foreigner 
to  clear  and  cultivate  a  few  acres  of  land  covered  with  wood  '■' 
Why,  after  many  years  he  will  scarcely  be  able  to  procure  from 
them  his  daily  bread,  which  he  will  then  have  to  eat  under  the 
contempt  of  his  neighbors,  and  a  gnawing  conscience  constantly 
accusing  him  of  having  forever  left  his  parents,  his  countrymen, 
his  fatherland  and  his  sovereign  ! 

"  Is  it  not  more  delightful  and  more  glorious  to  suffer  for  a 
time,  and  afterward  return  with  honor  and  glory  to  ?  "s  father- 
land, where,  with  his  comrades  in  arms,  he  can  recall  all  the 
pleasant  and  honorable  memories  of  the;5e  campaigns  ? 

"  No,  soldiers !  Be  not  deceived  by  these  vain  promises.  Your 
own  experience,  the  treaty  which  has  been  publicly  broken,  not 
to  speak  of  other  examples,  ought  to  show  you  the  kind  of  faith 
that  is  to  be  attached  to  these  promises.  They  ought,  also,  to 
prove  to  you  that  you  had  fiir  better  be  thinking  of  those 
obligations  to  which  you  are  bound  by  your  oath.  Ilemain 
faithful  to  your  God  and  your  sovereign,  and  wait  patiently  for 
the  time  when  you  can  rest  once  more  in  your  fatherland,  hav- 
ing the  witness  of  all  that  you  have  fought  honorably  and 
bravely. 

"  Phillips,  Lieutenant  General. 

"  Cambridge,  May  20,  1778." 


General  Riedesel  also  sought,  by  addressing  himself  to  their 
sense  of  honor,  to  accomplish  more  toward  putting  a  stop  to 
deserti(m  than  by  threatening  punishment.  Thus,  for  instance, 
he  published  to  the  troops  in  the  beginning  of  June,  an  article 


m  THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION. 


27 


from  the  London  iVews  in  which  the  behavior  of  the  Brunswick 
and  llessc  Hanau  troops  were  highly  praised. 

For  the  purpose  of  loosening  the  bands  of  discipline  still 
more,  General  Heath,  without  the  knowledge  of  Generals 
Phillips  and  lliedesel,  issued  passes  to  the  English  and  (Jernian 
officers,  permitting  them  to  go  to  Boston.  Upon  learning  this 
fact,  Phillips  issued  a  strict  order  to  the  officers  forbidding  them 
to  visit  that  city  in  future.  He  also  issued  another  order  to 
the  commanders  of  regiments  and  battalions  that  they  should 
gather  up  and  deliver  all  such  passes  to  him. 

Notwithstanding  the  destitute  and  miserable  condition  of  the 
prisoners  at  this  time,  they  resolved  to  celebrate,  on  the  4th  of 
June,  the  birthday  of  his  majesty,  the  king  of  Great  Britain. 
Accordingly  the  troops  marched  in  their  variegated  rags  and 
torn  shoes  to  the  parade  ground  and  formed  in  line,  as  they 
had  formerly  done  when  splendidly  accoutred.  The  generals 
walked  down  in  front  of  them  closely  scrutinizing  the  expres- 
sion of  each  soldier's  countenance ;  and  although  there  were 
some  in  whom  they  had  lost  all  confidence,  yet  many  a  faithful 
eye  gazed  calmly  into  theirs.  After  the  parade  had  thus  been 
finished,  the  men  were  addressed  by  the  generals  in  a  short 
speech,  in  which  the  latter  described  in  strong  language  the 
crime  of  desertion  and  admonished  the  soldiers  to  keep  faith 
with  their  sovereign  in  the  future.  The  Americans,  who  were 
present  and  saw  and  heard  everything,  looked  on  with  astonish- 
ment, but  otherwise  kept  quiet.  At  the  close  of  the  exercises, 
one  shilling  was  given  to  each  noncommissioned  officer,  and 
six-pence  to  each  prival ;,  for  the  purpose  of  celebrating  the 
day. 

The  members  of  the  Massachusetts  assembly  having  deter- 
mined to  hold  their  next  .session  at  Watertown,  General  Heath 
issued  an  order  to  the  prisoners  in  which  he  informed  them  that 
the  hitherto  extended  lines  were  to  be  contracted  to  llichards's 
tavern,  about  half  way  to  the  former  town.     This  was  done  that 

those  gentlemen  might  not  be  disturbed  ij^  their  meetings.     For 
4* 


HI  ' 


^ 


ll|l|!! 


28 


MAJOR  GENERAL  RIEDE8EL 


the  protection  of  the  assembly,  a  strong  detachment  was  at  the 
same  time  sent  by  the  governor  from  Boston  to  Watortown. 

On  the  6th  of  June,  an  order  of  Heath  to  the  captive  officers 
was  pnblished.  This  prohibited  riding  either  oi*  horseback  or 
in  carriages  in  Cambridge  or  Mystic  on  Sundays. 

II. 

The  commission,  appointed  for  the  exchange  of  prisoners, 
finally  agreed  on  the  10th  of  June,  that  all  prisoners  of  war, 
without  distinction  of  nationality,  should  be  exchanged  accord- 
ing to  the  time  of  their  capture.  Thus,  those  prisoners  who 
had  been  captured  near  Bennington,  had  the  first  chance  of 
being  released. 

('aptaiu  O'Connell,'  asked  permission  of  Riedesel  to  return 
to  Europe  and  arrange  some  pressing  family  affairs.  As  the 
presence  of  this  brave  officer  could  now  be  of  little  use,  Ried- 
esel di<l  all  in  his  power  to  further  his  wishes.  In  the  middle 
of  June,  he  received  permission  from  congress  to  return  to 
Europe  on  parole.  Riedesel  took  this  opportunity  to  send  by 
him  his  dispatches  to  his  court,  also  the  flags  which  he  had 
saved.  These  flags  the  captain  left  in  Rhode  island.  They 
were  afterward  carried  to  Canada  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Specht. 

On  the  14th,  a  new  difficulty  arose  between  the  provincials 
and  a  Brunswick  soldier  of  the  regiment  Rhetz,  which  cost  the 
latter  his  life.  He  was  on  the  point  of  going  beyond  the  chain 
with  his  young  and  beautiful  wife  who  had  followed  him  from 
Europe,  wlnm  six  brutal  militia  men  began  joking  with  the 
woman  in  a  coarse  manner.  The  husband  in  protecting  the 
honor  of  his  wife  finally  found  himself  forced  to  defend  her  and 
himself  with  a  cane  against  their  assailants.  The  sentinel  near 
by,  witnessed  the  unequal  combat  with  all  composure,  but  when 
the  German  drove  back  the  Americans,  he  ran  up  and  thrust 
his  bayonet  through  him.     The  poor  man  soon  expired.     Ried- 


>  BiedeeerB  adjutant. 


IN  THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION. 


29 


esel  again  complained  bitterly  to  Heath,  whereupon  the  latter 
sent  the  murderer  to  Boston  for  trial ;  but  it  could  never  be 
ascertained  what  was  done  to  him. 

New  troubles  had  by  this  time  also  broken  out  on  the  side  of 
iC  P^ngllsh.  Two  British  officers,  who  had  been  arrested,  had, 
.11  the  opinion  of  the  Americans,  abused  the  freedom  allowed 
them.  General  Heath  was  on  the  point  of  having  them  tried, 
in  which  case  they  would  certainly  have  been  sentenced  whether 
guilty  or  not,  when  Phillips  interfered,  and  Vjy  great  exertions 
saved  them  from  this  disgrace. 

A  still  sadder  case,  however,  occurred  on  the  17th  of  June. 
On  that  day  the  English  lieutenant,  Browne,  with  two  Boston 
ladies,  rode  down  Prospect  hill  in  a  one-horse  carriage.  The 
road  was  very  steep,  and  the  horse,  conscfiueutly,  was  going  at 
full  speed.  At  the  foot  of  the  hill  a  double  guard  of  Ameri- 
cans was  stationed  whose  duty  it  was  to  watch  that  portion  of 
the  road  lying  outside  the  chain,  and  also  the  storehouse  at  this 
place.  The  guard,  although  they  must  have  known  Browne  by 
his  uniform,  nevertheless  called  on  him  to  stop.  This  it  was 
impossible  for  him  to  do  at  once,  as  the  horse  was  running  at 
great  speed.  He  therefore  turned  round  to  .show  his  sabre, 
thereby  indicating  that  he  was  an  officer.  Notwithstanding 
this,  however,  the  Americans  ran  up  with  fixed  bayonets,  and 
one  of  them,  regardless  of  the  ladies  in  the  carriage,  fired 
a  bullet  through  the  head  of  the  officer.  He  died  a  few 
hours  afterward.  General  Phillips,  upon  hearing  of  this  cir- 
cumstance, was  fairly  beside  himself  with  anger,  and,  during 
his  first  excitement,  wrote  the  following  note  to  General 
Heath. 

"  Finally  it  has  come  to  murder  and  slaughter.  An  officer 
riding  from  the  barracks  down  Prospect  hill  has  been  shot  by 
an  American  sentinel.  I  ascribe  this  terrible  event  to  the 
thirst  for  blood  which  has  become  inseparable  to  this  rebellion, 
and  in  this  opinion  the  whole  of  Europe  concurs.  I  demand 
no  justice,  for  I  believe  that  all  principles  of  justice  have  left 


80 


MAJOR  QENERAL  HIEDESEL 


these  provinces.  I  demand  the  liberty  of  sending  a  report  of 
this  murder  to  General  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  by  the  way  of 
General  Washington's  head  quarters. 

"  William  riiiLLiPs. 
"  Oanibridj-c,  June  17,  1778." 

This  was  bold  language  for  a  prisoner  exposed  to  the  moods 
of  an  unjust  enemy  ;  and  General  Heath  was  not  a  little  excited 
when  he  received  this  abrupt  note.  The  result  was,  that  a 
guard  of  one  noncommissioned  officer  and  nine  men  were 
stationed  in  General  Phillips's  house,  while  he,  himself,  was 
ordered  not  to  leave  his  house  and  the  adjoining  garden,  until 
further  orders.  In  other  words  he  was  placed  under  arrest. 
At  the  same  time  Heath  sent  his  adjutant,  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Pollard  to  General  lliedesel  and  Brigadier  Hamilton,  offering 
the  former  the  command  of  all  the  captured  troops.  With 
dignified  composure,  General  lliedesel  listened  to  this  offer ; 
and  when  the  adjutant  had  finished,  he  told  him  curtly  and 
without  caring  for  the  selectness  of  his  language,  that  no 
general  had  the  power  to  take  from  an  English  general  a  com- 
mand that  had  been  given  him  by  his  king,  and  he  would, 
therefore,  at  all  times  acknowledge  General  Phillips  as  the 
commander  of  those  troops.  This  occurrence  caused  a  general  ex- 
citement in  both  camps,  especially  in  that  of  the  English.  Some 
officers  who  had  hastened  to  the  scene  carried  their  mortally 
wounded  comrade  into  the  camp,  and  caused  the  sentinel  who 
had  committed  the  murder  to  be  arrested.  The  latter  was  sent 
to  Boston,  but  nothing  was  heard  of  his  being  punished. 
According  to  rumor,  the  fellow  was  sent  to  the  army  of  General 
Washington,  where,  perhaps,  other  opportunities  were  given 
him  of  showing  his  bravery  in  a  similar  manner  to  an  unarmed 
foe. 

As  soon  as  General  Phillips  had  somewhat  calmed  down,  he 
issued,  on  the  18th  of  June,  an  order  to  his  troops,  in  which, 
among  other  things,  occurs  this  passage  : 


IX  rilfJ  AMEItlCAN  REVOLUTION. 


81 


"  Should  it  become  evident  that  this  proceeding  has  originated 
in  couHequence  of  express  orders,  or  of  an  intention  of  exciting 
the  captured  troops,  we  will  for  the  present  bear  it  patiently 
and  calmly,  leaving  it  to  providence  to  punish  such  wicked 
deeds.  The  treaty,  by  all  appearances,  seems  likely  soon  to  be 
ratified.  We  will,  therefore,  do  nothing  which  might  cause 
any  delay."  At  the  same  time  the  general  thanked  the  officers 
of  the  21st  llegiment,  the  one  to  which  the  deceased  belonged, 
for  their  calm  and  becoming  demeanor. 

On  the  19th,  the  deceased  was  buried  with  all  military  honors, 
and  entombed  in  the  church  at  Cambridge,  Heath  having  given 
his  consent  to  it.  All  the  English  officers  and  soldiers,  together 
with  nearly  all  the  German  officers,  took  part  in  the  funeral. 
In  the  cortcijc,  were  several  American  officers  of  high  rank, 
who  were  present,  either  for  the  purpose  of  showing  sympathy, 
or  of  keeping,  by  their  presence,  the  provincials  and  the  unruly 
populace  from  disturbing  the  pi'ocession. 

Meanwhile,  Phillips  received,  on  the  17th  (jf  June,  a  letter 
from  General  Howe,  who  was  in  Philadelphia,  in  whiih  the 
latter  informed  him  that  in  consequence  of  his  own  request  be 
had  been  relieved  by  his  majesty  of  the  command  of  the  army, 
and  that  it  had  been  given  to  General  Henry  Clinton.  The 
fact  was  that  Howe  was  dissatisfied  with  the  home  government 
in  several  particulars.  He  complained  to  Lord  Gcrmaine  of 
the  inattention  shown  to  his  recommendations,  and,  also,  of  a 
want  of  confidence  in  him,  and  poor  support.  This  general, 
like  many  other  commanders,  knew  how  to  gain  a  victory,  but 
did  not  know  how  to  take  advantage  of  it.  When  he  believed 
he  had  done  his  part,  he  relapsed  from  the  greatest  activity 
into  the  most  uncomprehensible  neglect.  We  have  already 
seen  this  demonstrated  in  the  events  of  the  latter  part  of  the 
year  177G,  when  the  brave  Hessians  near  Trenton  were  sacrificed 
to  his  negligence. 

In  consequence  of  constant  out  door  life  and  poor  rations  the 
number  of  sick  in  the  prisoners'  camp  was  considerably  increased. 


;l 


32 


MAJOR  OENERAL  lilEDESEL 


(Jenerul  IIowo  had  sent  into  Boston  harbor  several  sliip  loads 
of  provisions  to  the  prisoners,  but  the  Americans  —  devoid  of 
conscience  —  kept  the  good  provisions  to  themselves,  sending 
codfish  and  other  still  poorer  articles  to  the  captives.  The 
captured  generals  had  repeatedly  and  urgently  requested  Ilcath 
at  least  to  send  the  sick  a  few  fresh  provisions,  but  without 
avail.  The  poor  invalids  continued  to  lie  in  the  old,  miserable 
barracks  in  want  of  medicine ;  for  at  that  time  the  drugstores 
ill  Boston  were  most  miserably  kept,  and  what  medicines  were 
to  be  had,  were  enormously  dear.  Fresh  provisions,  also,  were 
very  high ;  but  as  these  were  absolutely  necessary  for  the  sick, 
lliedesel,  on  the  19th,  ordered  the  necessary  money  for  this 
purpose  to  be  drawn  from  the  regimental  funds.  Considering 
cleanliness,  moreover,  as  the  chief  preventive  of  disease,  ho 
issued  on  Thursday,  the  17th  of  July,  the  following  order : 

"  General  Riedesel,  in  the  course  (to-day)  of  his  weekly  in- 
spection of  companies  on  parade,  observed  that  some  of  the 
men  were  neither  washed  nor  shaved,  nor,  indeed,  was  their 
hair  even  properly  attended  to.  lie  noticed,  also,  that  there 
was  a  want  of  neck  and  pig-tail  tics,  and  that  the  men  wore 
pocket  handkerchiefs  around  their  necks. 

"  The  closer  and  the  more  uncomfortable  the  men  lie  in  the 
barracks,  the  more  necessary  it  is  to  attend  to  personal  clean- 
liness ;  otherwise  diseases  will  break  out.  Vermin  is  the  first 
consequence  of  this  state  of  things,  after  which  come  epidemic 
diseases,  especially  when  the  combing  of  the  hair  is  neglected. 
General  Riedesel  has  firm  confidence  in  his  battalion  com- 
manders, that  they  will  as  far  as  possible  act  upon  these  hints 
in  their  battalions,  and  that  he  will  see  the  results  of  them  next 

Thursday. 

"  RiKDKSEL,  Major  General." 


Riedesel,  also,  used  his  utmost  exertions  to  enforce  cleanliness 
in  the  barracks.  The  privies  and  the  sewers  had  to  be~cleaned 
frequently.     No   refuse,  such  as   vegetables,  meat,  fish,  etc., 


AV  TttK  AMKIilCAN  REVOLUTION. 


33 


were  allowed'  to  be  thrown  in  front  of  tlie  burrackH.  Two 
brooms  wore  obliged  to  be  kept  in  each  of  the  latter,  which 
were  used  for  sweeping  them  twice  a  day. 

Commissary  General  Masserow,  on  the  25th,  issued  an  order 
to  the  inliabitants  of  Massachusetts  bay,  to  the  effect  that  the 
prisoners  of  the  71st  English  regiment  were  to  be  sent  to  llut- 
land,  and  thence  to  Newport,  in  Khode  island,  for  exchange. 
There  was  yet  nothing  said  in  regard  to  the  exchange  of  the 
Germans.  T^pon  making  in(|uiry  concerning  it,  Uiedesel  re- 
ceived from  the  commissioner  the  doubtful  consolation  that  the 
general  exchange  of  the  two  nations  would  shortly  take  place,  and 
the  turn  of  those  prisoners  who  were  captured  near  IJennington, 
would,  therefore,  soon  come. 

The  number  of  Ikunswick  deserters  was  much  smaller  this 
month  tlian  the  previous  one.  Only  seven  names  were  on  the 
list. 

In  the  middle  of  July,  Riedesel  issued  the  following  circular 
to  the  commanders  of  regiments  and  battalions  : 

"  The  strict  orders  which  have  been  issued  at  Boston  induces 
General  Riedesel  to  believe  that  General  Heath  intends  to  find 
out  whether  or  not  the  captured  officers  have  obeyed  the  orders 
which  were  issued  by  him,  that  he  may  have  an  excuse  for  pun- 
ishing the  transgressors  more  severely.  The  larger  the  number 
of  those  who  have  disobeyed,  and  the  higher  the  rank  of  the 
offender,  the  better  he  will  like  it.  We  must,  therefore,  be  on 
our  guard,  from  the  liighest  to  the  lowest,  tliat  nothing  may  be 
found  in  our  conduct  which  can  give  tlie  Americans  the  slightest 
excuse  to  call  us  to  account.  All  officers  should,  therefore,  act 
accordingly,  and  be  very  careful  in  the  supervision  exercised 
by  them  over  the  soldiers  under  their  respective  commands,  as 
it  seems  that  nothing  is  spoken  or  undertaken  ))y  the  officers 
without  its  being  known  at  ]}ostou.  Notwith.standing  General 
Heath,  in  an  order  of  the  15th  of  July,  expressly  prohibited 
any  of  the  prisoners  working  for  the  inhabitants,  either  within 
or  outside  the  limits,  the  same  general,  yesterday  and  to-day. 


34 


MAJOR  OENEliAL  lilEDESEL 


iHSucd  a  liir^fo  lunnbcr  of  iitisscs  to  tlio  InhiibitantH,  pnrinittinf; 
tUoiii  to  eiijj^a^o  (Jorinim  Holdiors  to  work  for  tluiiii,  in  caso 
(iiiiioral  lliocU'wl  hIioxiIcI  allow  it. 

"The  lattor  would  choorf'ully  allow  hi.s  uieii,  by  these  lueaiiH, 
to  inerouHc  their  pay,  j)rovidiiig  that  their  number  bo  not  too 
large  ;  that  the  eoiiiinander.s  of  battalioiiH  know  those  men  whom 
they  permit  to  work  to  be  reliable;  that  the  place  where  they 
work  be  not  without  the  limits;  and  that  the  soldiers  come 
every  Thursday  to  the  parade  on  Winter  hill,  liut  no  man  is 
to  -be  allowed  to  go,  without  the  citizen  showing  a  jmss  from 
General  Heath.  For  the  Brunswick  troops,  the  passes  must  bo 
signed  by  Adjutant  General  Von  Poelnitz.  Brigadier  General 
Von  Gall  will  have  the  passes  for  the  Hesse  Hanaii  troops  signed 
by  the  brigade  major.  They  aro  to  be  sent  to  Adjutant  General 
Von  J'oelnitz  every  week,  together  with  the  report  of  the  num- 
ber of  the  Hesse  Hanau  S(ddiers  who  work  for  the  inhabitants. 
Thus  General  Riedesel  will  bo  able  at  any  time  to  answer  the 
questions  of  General  Phillips,  in  regard  to  the  number  of  Ger- 
man soldiers  furnished  with  passes  allowing  them  to  work  for 

the  inhabitants. 

''  Riedesel,  Major  General. 
"  July  17,  1778." 


■m 


III. 

The  confidence  of  tho  Americans  in  their  cause  rapidly 
increased,  especially  after  France  —  as  a  proof  that  she  was  in 
earnest  in  regard  to  her  acknowledgment  of  the  independence 
of  the  United  States^ sent  a  fleet  of  twelve  ships  of  the  line, 
four  frigates  and  twelve  thousand  men  to  their  succor.  This 
fleet,  under  the  command  of  Count  D'Estaing,  was  already 
cruising  off"  the  coast  of  Virginia.  This  movement  of  D'Estaing 
caused  General  Clinton  to  evacuate  Philadelphia  and  retreat 
further  and  further  north,  as  he  expected  that  an  attack  would 
soon  be  made  on  Rhode  island. 

The  Americans  talked  now  of  the  capture  of  Clinton's  army 


It 


IN  THE  A  SI  Kill  VAX  UKVOLUTION. 


:{5 


ii«  it'  it  was  already  a  f'ult  <nri>iii/t/i.  and  di'Hignod  iWr  it  a  t'ato 
Hiniilar  to  that  of  (Jencral  Hiirf^oyno.  Tlioy,  accordinj,'Iy,  ondeii- 
vorod  to  ;iatlu'.'  a  force  quickly  to^(!tlu'r,  and  advance  with  it  on 
I'mvidciicc.  U.  I.  Kor  thin  jmriiusc,  several  re^inieiitH  were 
taken  from  IJoKton,  and  also,  with  the  exception  of  a  Hniall 
detaehnit^nt,  those  troojis  who  had  hitherto  <;iiarded  the  pri- 
soners. As  it  was  now  impossible  to  kee[)  a  chain  of  outposts 
around  tin;  captured  troojw,  the  latter,  as  a  natural  consequence, 
went  lieyond  the  prescribed  limits,  a  circumstance  of  wliich 
General  Heath  complained.  The  two  generals,'  tlierefore,  in 
order  not  to  give  any  further  cause  for  dissatisfaction,  and  also 
to  avoid  all  future  trouble,  formed  a  line  of  their  own  men 
aroniul  the  two  hills,  no  one  being  allowed  to  go  beyond  it 
witliout  a  pass.  For  tliis  purpose,  each  hill  furnislied  daily  one 
captain,  two  noncommissioned  officers  and  sixty  men. 

(Jcneral  Heath  had  reported  to  congress  tlie  case  of  the  shoot- 
ing of  Lieutenant  Browne  aiul  the  arrest  of  (general  IMiillijis, 
inclosing  at  the  same  time  the  severe  letter  of  Phillips.  On 
the  7th  of  July,  an  answer  was  received  to  the  eflFect  that 
Heath's  conduct  was  indorsed.  The  arrest  of  i'hillips  was 
therefore  considered  proper ;  but  in  tlie  face  of  his  iirrest,  the 
latter  continued  to  attend  to  the  duties  of  couunander  of  the 
prisoners. 

3Ioanwhile,  General  Clinton  accomplished  liis  masterly  reti'cat 
to  New  York.  The  Americans  were  not  a  little  astonished  when 
they  found  that  the  army,  which  they  tliought  would  be  cut  off, 
was  now  in  safety.  At  first,  congress  did  not  know  which  of  the 
generals  was  to  blame  for  this  failure.  All  that  was  plain  was, 
that  the  proposed  plan  for  capturing  the  army,  which  was  in 
itself  very  defective,  had  been  rendered  yet  more  so  by  the 
irresolution  of  the  commanders  in  carrying  it  out.  Finally  the 
entire  blame  fell  upon  Major  General  Lee,  who  was  the  scape- 


1  PhillipB  and  Riedesel. 


5t. 


nct 


MAJnii  OKXKltA  I.  ItlKhKsKt. 


ppjit  liir  fill'  rest.'  (ifiit'i'iil  WiisIiiii^itoM.  wlm  iicciiscd  liim  nf 
ii('uli;:('iicc,  ciiu.xi'il  liiiii  t(i  lie  arrcsti'd  and  fried  hcrorc  n  cinirt 
iiiiii'tiiil.  Ill'  was  si'iiti'iii'cd  In  III'  dcprivi'd  iil'  liis  ('iiiiiiiiiiiid  I'm' 
one  yi'iir.  On  tlic  liTlli.  tlif  "Jdlli  KhLilisli  ii',L;inii'nl  sImi'IciI  un 
ils  niiircli  In  Itutliind.  In  an  urdi'i'  of  tin'  'ls\\\.  Ili'alli  |ii'n- 
liil)it('d  tinssiildicrs  trading  in  |iriivisions.  ( )n  this  day  lii'  dirccU'd 
tlial  till'  |p|'ii\  isinns  sIiiMiid  lii'  lakcn  away  t'rnni  all  llniMi'  wlm  were 
nii't  willi  iin  fiu'  way  IVuin  ('andirid;;i'  In  tin'  hill.  Anmn^-  this 
niindii'i'  wi'i'i'  many  servants  ol'  the  niliccrs.  and  soldiers  whu  hail 
hniu^ht  with  them  the  meessaries  ol' lil'e  I'ni'  others.  This  jm'o- 
hiltition,  moreover,  was  the  harder  tor  the  prisom^rs.  sineo  tin; 
Anu'riean  commissioners  did  nut  furnish  enough  of  those  jirti- 
visions  which  were  actually  necess.-iry  to  sn|p|iort  life.  Piirinj:; 
this  month,  desertions  auain  increased;  twcnty-fnir  nu'n  having 
esca])ed  in  that  timo  from  the  UrunHwick  corjis. 

On  the  1st  of  ,\uiiiist,  the  itirthday  of  the  duke  of  Hrunswick 
was  celebrated  as  j^ayly  as  jiossihle.  IMvine  services  were  held 
in  the  morninji',  after  which  the  parade  took  place,  the  haut- 
lioyists  hoinji' present  with  their  instrunu'nts,  ii  portion  of  which 
they  had  manaticd  to  keep.  Three  iheiu's  were  jiiven  for  the 
sovereiji'ii,  the  soldiers  wavin;:  their  hats  every  time.  After 
this  the.  troops  detiled.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  parade,  Hied- 
esel  received  the  conirratulations  of  his  officers,  after  which  he 
gave  a  dinner,  to  which  all  the  hi'iuadiei's  and  staff  officers  were 
invited.  I'lu;  noncommissioned  otlicers  received  this  day  the 
same  (/iiiiiriir.  that  had  been  ,i;iven  them  on  the  birthday  of  the 
king  of  Kngland.  with  which  to  drink  the  lu'alth  of  their 
sovereign. 

During  the  11th,  12rli  i  ml  KUh  of  August,  a  terrilde  storm 
raged,  which  tore  up  the  strongest  trees  and  demolished  a  few 
of  the  barracks,  liulred.  throughout  the  entire  summer,  there 
were  heavy  thunder  storms  in  this  section  of  the  country. 
There  were,  also,  heavy  dews  at  night. 


'  Vide  the  Treason  of  Major  General  Lee,  by  George  H.  Moore.    New  York,  1880. 


/.v  ////■;  .\.\//-:/t/('.\.v  itt:\'in,rrin.\. 


n? 


Tllf  cllU'l' (hcilfl-f  iit'iicliiili   was  linW  ill  lllc   vii'illily  nl'  lilimli^ 

isliiii<l,  wliifli  w  iH  attiu'ki'il  liy  land  and  water  l»_v  'ln'  Aiiiciiraiis. 
Init  waw  bravely  (Itdt'iidt'd  by  Cliiitnii.  The  Kiij;!!?*!!  fleet,  iiiidei' 
Adiniiiil  llowe.  was  a  iiiatidi  lor  the  l''reii('li  fleet,  aitlioii^h  severe 
naval  eiit;aj:('iiieiits  i)eeiirre(l  every  iinw  and  tlieii.  The  wniiiided 
in  tlie.se  cDinliats,  wlm  iiad  heeii  linni^ht  tn  ('aiiiliri(l;;e,  said  that. 
the  Ani(!rieaii8  eniild  luit  take  llhude  island,  (leiieral  l'iiiHii)M, 
tlierefiirt!.  anncninced  t(i  Iiis  men  tliat  the  .\iiieriean  rej:inients 
wiinid  sdiiii  return  tn  Huston,  at  lln^  same  time  t'nrliiildini;  all 
eipiiversafinii  u{i(in  this  tupie.  that  all  iliflieiilty  lietweeii  them 
and  tlie  e.xeited  .\iiierieans  iiiij;lit  he  avnich'd.  <ieiieral  lleatii 
was  e.xtreiiielv   indi"iiant   wlieii   he  heard  id'  this  (ir(h'r.  whiidi 


struck  liin 


IS  lu'emature, 


On  the  2!»tli  of  Auuust.  tlu^  Kreiieh  \WX  enforced  the  harltor 
()('  Mostmi  and  east  anelior,  for  tlio  purpose  of  n^pairinji'  the 
sliips  which  had  hceii  sevendy  (hiina^ftul  both  by  the  late  stiinn 
and  the  naval  eiiiiaiienients.  Tlu^  atbiiiral's  shij),  fjiiiii/iiri/iM-, 
liad  lost  her  nia^ts  and  bowsprit,  so  that  it  was  towecl  into  the 
harbor. 

The  .Vmeriean  land  troops  that  had  been  si'ut  on  tiic  expedi- 
tion to  IJhode  island  were  KmI  by  (Jciicrul  Sullivan.  Very 
little  w.is  known  in   tiie  prisoners'  eainp  reuardinLr  tin;  result  of 


1   that   little    was   very 


uureliahle, 


his 


this  luidertakinj^',  am 
iiroso  from  the  fact  tliut  the  Americans  were  very  seeretivo,  n  )t 
allowing  oven  the  privnteH  to  talk  about  it;  and  the  Htatenients 
of  those  (d'  their  newspa])ers  that  sjiid  aiiythiiii!;  about  it  wero 
evidently  so  miesided  as  to  be  utterly  unreliable.  During 
this  month  (August),  the  Hrunswiekers  lost  live  men  ))y  deser- 
tion. Seven,  however,  who  had  |>reviously  de.sorted,  returned 
voluntarily. 

On  the  1st  of  September,  the  IJostoiiians  were  thrown  into  no 
little  terror,  by  the  fleet  of  Admiral  Howe,  numbering  twenty- 
two  sail,  making  its  apjiiarance.  The  French  iulmiral  feared 
lest  the  Mnglish  admiral,  taking  advantage  of  the  dilaj)idated 
condition  of  his  own  fleet,  minht  make  a  demonstration  auainsi 


:]s 


M.x.Kiii  (; h:\HitM.  itii  i)h:sh:i. 


i 


tho  city.  Ill",  tlicn't'ort',  iiniiuHliiitcly  imistctl  his  aliiriii  tliigs, 
which  wjis  t'olldwol  liy  ii  similiir  actinii  nftho  JJimtoii  authorities 
(til  tlu'iv  Imildinus  ami  s]iir(.'s.  hlvcry  <nic  who  could  carry  <>r 
obtain  arms  hastened  to  the  city-  'I'he  |)ci'|»li>  of  the  iieijihl>or- 
in_n-  to\viishij)s  came  ridiiij;-  into  the  city  on  horsi^hack.  tio- 
veriiiu"  Hancock,  wlio  had  just  arrived  from  llhodc  island,  at 
once  had  the  most  important  parts  in  and  around  the  city 
occupied.  .Nleanwhile,  it  t^rew  dark  ;  and  the  alarm  fir.es  shone 
from  the  heights.  .Ml  this  hap]iened  in  full  view  of  the  pri- 
soners. How  dill  their  hearts  heat  in  expectation  of  a  ])ossilile 
lihorafion  I  Kvery  moment  niiuht  hrint;  on  a  decisive  action  1 
Who  eimld  tell  upon  whose  banners  victory  iniiiht  perch  '( 

The  .\nu>ricans.  owinii:  to  the  proximity  (d'  the  jirisoners, 
were  undt-r  considerable  alarm.  I?ul  to  what  place  could  they 
send  them  without  :iii  escort,  since  no  troops  could  now  be 
spared  for  this  purpose'  They,  however,  endeavored  to  rid 
themstdves  of  a  portion,  at  least,  of  these  olmoxious  quests  by 
onlerinii'  the  lilst  and  17th  Knuiish  reyinuMits  to  march  to 
Hutland.  The  necessary  teams  for  this  ])urpose  were  accord- 
inu'ly  pr<ieured  in  ;ill  haste  ;  and  the  r''i:iments  onh'red  to  start 
on  their  march  the  next  day  (Septendier  lid),  at  mum.  .\n 
(M'der  was  also  issued  that  no  otfiei>r  cm-  private  of  the  captured 
troo]is  should  leave  his  (|uarters  .-li'ter  sunset.  l?iit  when  on 
the  followiui;  morniuii'  it  was  found  that  the  Kujilish  fleet  hail 
dejiarted.  the  .\merieans  breatlied  easier. 

Th(>  prep.irations  of  the  people  of  IJoston  for  ri'ceiviuu'  .\d- 
miral  U'hlstaini:'.  had  Ikhmi  interrupted  by  the  smlden  appearam-e 
of  the  l"]ni;lish  fleet  ;  but  it  was  now  tletermlned  to  weleonm 
him  with  extraordinary  jionip.  on  the  Itli  of  Septend)er.  The 
l.-irii'c  c(Uirt  house  at  Hoston  was  expri'ssly  fitted  up  for  his 
judilic  ri'ception.  The  first  nu-ii  of  IJoston.  together  with  all 
of  the  higher  i;rade  of  oflicers.  assendded  here  on  this  occasion. 
Speakiuii'  of  tliis  event  Hiedestd's  journal  says  :  '•  |)inner  was 
served  at  the  jialaee  of  (lenertd  llaneock  at  the  expense  id' 
congress.      Nevi'r  bid'ore  had    Moston  witnessed  such  s[ilemlor  ; 


/.V   /■///■:  AM/:7!/(.{.\  ItKVoUTlOS. 


80 


nnd  it  is  said  lliat  all  tin-  i''n'iicli  (ilViccrs.  wlin  witc  prt'sciit  and 
will"  were  gallants  by  iiatiins  t'lijoyi'd  lli-.'insflvcs  amazingly 
diiriiiji  till'  f'fstivitifs  nf  this  (icfasioii.  Al'tcrwan!  the  l-'rcncli 
ofiiciTs  bciraii  to  make  tlie  M('<|ii!)intaiiC('  id'  thf  |triscincrs  mi 
l*nis|ii'ct  and  WintiT  hills."  Thus  alisolntisni  and  di'mni-racy 
f'rati'rni/.i'd  un  Amt-rican  soil  in  (irdcr  tn  tij;ht  a  cinnnKin  enemy. 
Not  a  siditary  f'aet  in  histury. 

|{iit..  niitwitlistandinii'  these  enthusiastic  nianil'estations  of 
tViendshij).  a  eii(dness  sunn  arose  upon  several  tjuestioiis.  Cotint 
D'i'lslaini;-  had  exjH'cted  that  his  vesstds  would  lie  titled  uiit 
with  all  neeessary  |ivovisions  l«y  his  new  allies,  and  was  eonse 
(juently  not  a  little  astonished  when  the  latter  utterly  refused 
to  do  it.  The  shrewd  .\nierieans  wished  to  have  !iis  aiil  as 
eheaply  as  iiossilile.  and  viident  discussions  ar<ise  hetween  the 
two  jiarties.  |)'Kstainu  then  math-  a  second  demand,  to  tlie 
efl'ect  that  coiii;ress  should  erect  hospitals  ai.d  take  care  of  the 
wtumded  and  sick.  .M'tcr  eonsideralde.  talk  it  was  tinally 
agreed  that  the  Americans  should  furuisli  the  medicines,  hut 
not  the  provisions  ;  and  tl:e  co\int  was  forced  to  jiay  dear  for 
every  artiide  he  took  on  hoard,  even  to  a  houshead  of  water. 
.Nor  was  it  loui;  hefore  the  Krcnidimen  and  tie  IJostoniaus 
htokeil  askance  at  each  other.  Indeed,  their  had  fcclinLTS  in- 
creased to  such  an  extent  that  hloody  |it:hts  took  place  hetween 
them  almost  ihiily.  The  jieoph'  of  IJoston  thought  that  the 
])olite  Krenchmcn  were  loo  hd'ty  and  aristocratic  ;  while  the 
latter  on  their  side.  tlion<iht  the  Hostonian.s  too  vuluar.  At 
last,  matters  reached  si.,  n  a  ])ass  that  |)'Kstaini;'  was  ohliued  to 
forbid  his  ou.c.  ;>■  ,  '.''i  --s  and  sailors  from  visitiujj;  the  city. 
'Jli.i  s'ate  ct  tilings  v.as  so  unpleasant  to  the  iiovernor,  that  he 
endeaV'  .;  '.  w  smooth  over  matters  by  re]n'eseiitin<;  ii>  the  public 
prinlsih.it  *  len  was  no  truth  in  these  reports.  Indeed,  he  went 
so  far  as  (O    orhi.)  anyone  uiviiii:' them  currency  i  ersatioii. 

Puriiii:  ti  is  season  the  so  called  foul  fever,'  ra;;ed  so  sev»'rely 


'  WiiR  h  ilu'  vi'll  '«■  IVvi'rr 


ppi 


4(» 


MAJOli  GKiVEliAL  ItlEDESUL 


in  tliis  part  of'tlu'  foiiiiti'v.  that  many  of'tlio  jjinsniicrs  sickened 
and  (lied,  (ieiienils  IJicdesel  and  IMiiliipis  instituted  energetic 
measures  to  put  a  stop  to  the  contagion.  Those  wht  were  sick 
of  this  distemper  were  separated  from  the  other  jiatients, 
placed  in  separate  barracks  and  rin-eived  separate  nurses. 

Tiu;  peace  commissioners,  Carlisle,  .lohnstim  and  William 
Eden,  who  were  treating  with  Washington,  had  all  along  kept 
in  view  the  Fulfillnieiit  of  the  treaty  by  the  Americans,  and 
continued  to  make  representations  to  congress.  The  latter 
returned  evasive  answers  as  long  as  it  was  able,  until  it  was 
f(U'ccd.  on  the  4th  of  September,  to  return  a  plain  answer,  as 
follows : 

'■  Congress,  having  resolved,  nn  the  Stli  <if  .January  177s. 
that  the  embarkation  of  (Jeneral  tJurgoyne,  and  the  troops  under 
his  command,  should  be  post]ioned  >iutil  a  plain  and  clear 
ratification  of  the  convention  at  Saratoga  could  be  sent  to  the 
court  of  (ireat  Hritai^i,  hereby  again  resolves  that  no  ratification 
of  the  treaty  at  Saratog.a  can  be  acknowledged  by  congress, 
even  if  it  should  be  oft'ered  by  sueli  powers  as  are  interested  in 
it  by  connection,  participatitm  or  otherwise." 

This  news  caused  great  e.vcitement  among  the  prisoners, 
although  they  had  hing  since  given  up  all  hope  of  having  the 
tri'aty  fulfilled  by  the  Anmricans  ;  ;ind  as  congress  hesitated 
not  to  express  itself  in  this  manner,  might  not  even  worse 
things  be  e.\i)eeted ''. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Specht.  who  had  gone  by  a  pass  to  New 
York,  in  April,  had  meanwhile  been  exchanged,  and  received 
orders  iVom  the  gov(!rnor  of  Canada,  to  gather  together  the 
exchanged  soldiers  and  bring  them  to  Canada.  In  a  letter 
from  New  Wolfenbiittel.  under  date  of  September  4th,  ]77S^ 
he  describes  the  miserable  condition  ol'  the  prisimers  in  the 
northern  portion  of  tin?  I'nited  States.  Among  other  things, 
he  says:  " 'I'he  men  go  naked.  wiHiout  a  coat  to  tlu'ir  backs  ; 
and  some  who  have  been  in  the  hos])ital  an;  wearing  pieces  of 
blankets,  so  that  T  am  forced  to  have  uniforms  made." 


J  .i",;g 


[^ 


t 


/.V  THE  AMKRICAX  JiKVOLUTWX. 


41 


As  oarly  as  September  lOtli.  tlio  runiuv  was  rifo  in  tlio 
prismiors'  cainp,  that  it  was  tlic  iiitoiitioii  of  cuii-ircss  to  sepa- 
rate liotli  nationalities,  anil  send  tin;  Mnj;lisli  troops  to  Rutland, 
and  the  (Jernians  lartlier  in  the  interior  of  t.lu^  eov.ntry. 

On  the  21st  (»f  Septeniljer.  two  more  peace  eoniniissioners, 
Poetor  IJerkenhut  and  Mr.  Teni])le.  arrived  from  Hn^land. 
Tlu;  latter  is  described  by  Oeneral  iviedesel  as  very  indolent 
and  careless,  but  the  former  as  an  exceedingly  active  and  care- 
i"ul  mun  who  sought  to  do  his  duty  with  all  diligence.  Dr. 
JJerkenhut,  who  acted  entirely  in  unison  with  his  brother 
commissioner,  the  newly  sent  (lovcirnor  .Johnson,  lirst  en- 
deavored to  make  the  ac((uaintanee  of  influential  Americans, 
es[)eeially  with  tlu^  members  of  the  lowijr  courts,  those  having 
the  most  influence  with  the  different  classes  of  the  ]ieoplc. 
This  was  done  by  him  with  tlie  object  of  influeneing  them 
against  congress,  and  tinis  creating  a  division.  This  person 
was  accused  of  attempting  to  eai'ry  out  his  designs  even  in 
Philadelphia  ;  a  circumstance  which  so  enraged  congress  that  it 
sent  the  Knglish  peace  commissioner  to  the  {lenitentiary. 

On  the  24th  of  Sej)tomber,  IJiedesel  received  intelligence 
from  Major  Maiborn,  who  was  a  jirisoner  at  ^\'estminster.  that 
Conimissioner  Masserow  had  stated  that  a  portion  of  the  otHcors 
captured  imar  IJennington  were  to  l)e  exchanged.  Soon  after, 
news  to  the  same  effect  was  receiviHl  from  the  commissioner 
himself.  ri)on  tiie  reception  of  this  news.  iJiedesel  ordered 
lots  to  be  cast  to  decide  which  of  the  officers,  ])i'longing  to  the 
regiment  of  dragoons  and  the  liattalions  of  grenadiers  and  yiigcrs, 
should  remain  with  the  captured  troojts  after  the  others  had 
be.'U  exchangeil.  lie  cxce])ted.  however,  from  tiiis  order,  tlu^ 
cavalry  cajit.iin,  l'"ricke  and  Lieuleniint  (lebhard.  These,  hav- 
ing hitherto  served  as  regimental  (|uarter  masters,  he  (n'dered 
to  remain  and  attend  to  this  business  for  the  troo])s.  The  fol- 
lowing were  the  officers,  who,  a  few  days  subsequent,  were 
exchanged  and  went  to  Whode  island.  .^Iajor  A'on  .Nlaiborn. 
Cavalry-Captain    \'on  Schlagenteuffel,   Lieutenants   Ihoda  and 


42 


MAJOR  GEXERAL  lilEDKfiEL 


Von  Reckrodt.  Cornet  Stutzer,  Doctor  Yorbrodt,  Auditor 
Thomas  and  Cluiplain  ]\[flzlicinicr  of  the  dragoon  regiments; 
Lieutenants  \<)\\  Hurghoff  and  3Ieyer  of  the  grenadier  bat- 
talion; Kiisigns  Donielve  and  Andre  of  the  regiment  Kiede.sel; 
Captains  Von  (ieisau  and  Domnies  and  Ensign  Oniiet  Eanzau 
of  the  battery  of  Barner;  and  Lieutenant  Bach  of  the  Hesse 
Ilanau  troops. 

During  this  month  (iSeptember),  there  were  only  four  deser- 
tions among  the  IJrunswiek  troops. 

By  the  beginning  of  Oeiober,  the  difficulties  between  l^hillips 
ar...  ill  i.'h  had  reached  such  a  pass  th :,c  the  latter  I'cfused  to 
recui  ;'iy  letters  from  the  fcnnner.  No  more  business  was 
therefore  transacted  between  the  two.  Henceforth,  Heath 
addressed  himself  only  to  Biedesel,  who  received  from  the 
governor  of  Boston,  a  command  to  attend  in  tlie  future  to  all 
business  connected  with  the  English  troops.  Although  Ried- 
esel.  who  highly  respected  and  loved  Phillips,  disliked  this 
arrangement,  he  could  not  very  well  refuse  compliance  with  it 
unless  at  the  risk  of  having  an  inferior  officer  placed  over  him. 

Unfortunately,  in  the  beginning  of  this  month,  desertion  again 
increased  so  rapidly,  that  lliedesel  was  forced  to  isssue  another 
address  to  his  troops. 

On  the  oth.  the  24th  Knglish  regiment  .started  for  Rutland. 

In  consi'((ueiice  of  the  presence  of  the  French  fleet  in  the 
harbor  of  JJoshin.  provisions  were  extremely  dear,  a  circum- 
stance that  was  severely  felt  among  the  prisoners.  General 
Phillips  was  conse((uently  obliged  to  send  the  English  pay- 
master (ieddes  to  Rhode  island  to  obtain  moiu\y  and  provisions. 
Commissary  (ieneral  Clarke  was  also  sent  to  New  York  on  a 
similar  mi.ssion.  charged,  however,  with  the  reporting  to  Clinton 
the  present  condition  of  aft'airs  annnig  the  pri.soners  and  their 
commanders. 

On  the  11th  October,  there  was  another  great  excitement 
among  the  inhabitants  and  garrison  at  Boston,  (ieneral  Sul- 
livan having  informed  the  governor  that  a  strong  English  fleet 


IX  THE  AMERICAN  liEVOLUTION. 


of  thirty  men  of  war  and  one  liundred  transports  had  hcen  seen 
off  the  coast  making  directly  for  Capo  Cod,  IFeath  advised  the 
inhabitants  to  pack  up  tlieir  effects  and  remove  the  women  and 
children.     The  alarm,  however,  was  again  groundless. 

On  the  loth,  in  obedience  to  an  order  from  the  governor,  the 
62d  English  regiment — the  lastof  the  English  troops  on  Prospect 
hill  —  started  for  Rutland.  The  greater  part  of  their  officers, 
however,  remained  in  their  old  quarters  in  and  around  Cam- 
bridge, there  being,  as  j'ct,  no  room  for  them  in  Rutland.  Only 
one  captain  with  each  regiment  and  one  lieutenant  with  each 
company  had  accompanied  the  troops  to  that  place. 

Meanw^hile,  the  ships  from  Canada,  with  the  long  expected 
baggage,  arrived  in  New  York.  The  PiUglish  lieutenant,  ("oi- 
lier, who  had  been  .sent  by  l^hillips,  with  the  consent  of  dates, 
from  Saratoga  into  Canada,  came  with  the  ships,  and  reached 
Cambridge  on  the  lOth  of  October.  lie  brought  some  letters 
from  Ijieutenant  Dove — who  belonged  to  the  German  troops  in 
Canada — to  General  Riedesel.  Through  these  letters  ii,  was 
first  learned  that  General  Carleton  had  left  for  Kngland,  and 
that  his  command  had  been  given  to  General  Ilaldimand,  who 
had  been  appointed  governor  of  Canada.  It  was  also  learned 
that  a  second  transport,  having  on  board  four  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  had  safely  arrived  from  Rrunswick.  General  Clinton  also 
sent  Phillips,  through  the  same  channel,  the  welcome  news  that 
four  thousand  blankets,  and  cloth  fin*  long  pantaloons  and  caps 
were  on  their  way.  all  of  which  was  the  sole  gift  of  the  king  of 
England.  The  uniforms  for  the  companies  were  paid  for  out  of 
a  special  disbursement  in  the  charge  of  the  captain ;  but  the 
.smaller  articles  of  clothing  the  soldiers  were  obliged  to  pay  for 
themselves,  a  small  deduction  for  this  purpose  being  taken  from 
their  monthly  pay.  A  fire  which  happened  in  New  York  at  this 
time,  burned  up  one  hundred  thousand  yards  of  cloth  and  fifty 
thousand  woolen  blankets  —  a  great  loss  for  the  English  troops, 
upon  the  verge  of  winter. 

Notwithstanding  congress,  in  the  letter  of  the  4th  of  September 
0* 


44 


MAJOR  OEXEBAL  lilEDESfH 


before  alluded  to,  had  plainly  declared  the  invalidity  of  the 
treaty  at  Saratoga,  General  Clinton  took  the  trouble  once  more 
to  express  his  opinions  in  a  letter  to  Washington  as  follows : 
The  letter  is  dated  the  l!)th  September. 

'■  Sir  :  Nothing  but  the  express  orders  of  his  maj(!sty — a  copy 
of  whi(;h  I  herewith  inclose  —  could  have  induced  me  again  to 
trouble  you  or  the  American  congress  in  regard  to  the  captured 
troops  now  in  New  lOngland,  kept  there  contrary  to  the  treaty 
at  Saratoga.  The  uniform  disregard  paid  to  all  recjuests  in  this 
particular,  is  unheard  of  and  without  a  parallel  among  contend- 
ing parties.  I  therefore  repeat  the  rccjuest,  that  the  treaty, 
which   was  negotiated   at  Saratoga,  shall   be  carried  out,  and 

iw  offer,  with  the  special  and  only  lately  repeated  command 
of  his  majesty  the  king,  and  in  his  name,  to  renew  all  those 
conditions  which  were  agreed  upon  by  Lieutenant  General  IJur- 

oyii  ..1  iclatiou  to  those  troops  under  his  command.  I  con- 
sider mys'.'lf  hereby  discharged  from  all  obligations,  not  only 
toward  his  majesty  the  king,  whose  order  I  obey,  but  toward 
the  unhappy  people  whose  fate  I  bring  before  your  conscience 
in  the  hope  that  your  sense  of  justice  will  prevent  the  evil  con- 
se({uencos  which  your  newly  introduced  system  of  warfare  will 
necessarily  bring  about. 

"  I  have  the  honor  of  being,  etc., 

"Clinton." 

General  Washington  sent  this  letter  to  congress,  and  the  latter, 

with  laconic  brevity  answered,  through  its  secretary,  as  follows  : 

"  Your  letter  of  the  19th   September  has  been  laid  before 

congress.     I  am  ordered  to  inform  you  that  the  congress  of  the 

T'niti'd  States  of  North  America  never  answers  offensive  letters. 

"  1  am.  etc., 

'•  CiiAHLKS  Thomson,  Secretary." 


Thus  vanished  the  last  hope  of  negotiations  with  congress  in 


relation  to  the  exchange. 


iiV  Tim  AMERICAN  REVOLVriOX. 


45 


On  the  24tli  (if  October,  a  lieutenant  arrived  with  the  artiek>s 
sent  by  Clinton.  They,  however,  eoulil  not  be  used  at  present, 
for  on  the  next  day  Heath  informed  Riedesel  that  the  latter 
was  to  march  on  the  5th  of  November  with  his  Germans  to  Vir- 
ginia. Tlie  ships,  that  had  arrived  from  Canada  with  the  bag- 
gage, and  which  had  already  left  New  York,  received  orders  to 
sail  toward  the  Virginia  coast,  it  being  impossible  to  transport 
the  baggage  over  land  on  a  road  six  hundred  and  fifty  miles 
long  and  in  poor  condition. 

This  news  was  very  unexpected  to  the  German  troops,  for 
who  could  have  supposed  that  they  were  to  be  forced  to  under- 
take sucii  a  tedious  march  just  before  the  approach  of  winter":' 
AVluvf  could  have  induced  congress  to  take  such  a  measure,  was 
asked  by  all '/  The  question  was  soon  solved.  When  Clinton 
perceived  that  all  negotiations  with  congress  were  broken  off, 
he  declared  that  if  the  convention  troops  were  to  be  treated 
lik(!  other  prisoners,  they  must  be  supported  by  their  captors. 
Hitherto  the  royal  magazines  had  furnished  them  the  neces- 
saries of  life,  and  the  extravagant  and  unreasonable  bills  of  the 
Americans  for  ((uarters,  fuel  and  othisr  things  had  been  paid. 
This  was  now  to  cease.  Congress,  therefore,  not  wishing  to 
support  the  prisoners  on  the  resources  of  a  portion  of  the 
country  already  considerably  exhausted  by  the  French  fleet  and 
the  American  army,  nothing  else  remained  but  to  send  the 
prisoners  into  that  section  of  the  country,  which,  by  being 
farther  removed  from  the  theatre  of  war,  had  suffered  less. 
Charlottesville,  on  the  James  river  in  A'irginia,  was  accordingly- 
selected  for  the  Germans.  This  region  was  called  by  the  Ame- 
ricans a  paradise;  where,  they  said,  was  to  be  found  an  abun- 
dance of  everything. 

The  cloth,  which  had  in  the  meantime  arrived,  was  distri- 
buted among  the  companies  on  the  2Gth.  in  order  that  warm 
pantaloons.  ca}»s  and  mittens  might  be  at  once  made  up  for  those 
soldiers  who  stood  most  in  need  of  such  articles  of  clothing.  The 
blankets  were  also  distributed.     What  was  now  mcjst  anxiously 


46 


MAJOn  UESEUAL  ItlEDKSEL 


desired  was  iiionoy ;  for  it  would  eertiiinly  have  been  a  very 
foolish  thiiif!;  to  start  out  ou  so  long  a  march  and  into  a  country 
cut  off  from  all  communication,  without  the  requisite  amount  of 
money.  Paymaster  (lodecke,  who  was  expected  from  Canada 
with  the  bagjiage  and  a  full  purse,  was  obliged  —  in  order  to 
fill  the  latter  —  to  go  by  way  of  New  York.  Upon  his  arriving 
at  New  York,  however,  and  applying  to  Clinton  for  the  necessary 
funds,  he  was  refused.  The  latter  rea»jued  as  follows  :  "  The 
Americans  have  hitherto  acted  contrary  to  all  faith ;  and  they 
will  not  hesitate  to  take  away  money  from  the  paymaster  on  the 
route  to  reimburse  themselves  for  the  provisions  supplied  to  the 
captured  troops.  The  latter  have  to  be  taken  care  of  any  way ; 
and  if  they  have  nothing,  they  can  pay  nothing."  But  while 
Clinton  could  thus  force  congress  to  support  the  prisoners,  the 
latter  suiFered.  The  two  generals,  Phillips  and  lliedesel,  both 
of  wh(  in,  always  solicitous  for  the  welfare  of  their  men,  were 
anxious  to  lessen  their  sufferings,  were  no  little  embarrassed 
by  this  an.swer.  Finally,  after  considerable  trouble,  they  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  from  Heath  permission  to  send  Lieutenant 
Campbell  to  llhojie  island  in  order  to  borrow  as  much  money 
as  possible  for  the  present  emergency. 

During  this  month,  ten  Brunswickers  deserted.' 

IV. 

On  the  2d  of  November,  Phillips  issued  directions  for  the 
march  in  conformity  to  Heath's  order  to  the  commanders. 
According  to  this,  the  prisoners  were  to  leave  Rutland  and 
Winter  hill  in  six  divisions.  Each  nationality  formed  three 
divisions,  and  was  attended  by  an  American  escort.  The  first 
English  division,  consisting  of  the  artillery,  grenadiers,  light 
infantry  and  the  f)th  llegiment  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Hill, 
and  the  first  German  division,  consisting  of  the  dragoons,  grena- 
diers, and  the  regiment  Von  Rhetz  under  Major  V(m  Mengen, 
were  to  start  on  the  5th  of  November.  The  second  Enulish 
divisions,  consisting  of  the  20th  and  21st  Regiments  under  com- 


/.V  TIIK  AMKIUCAN  11EV0LVT10.\. 


47 


inand  of  Major  Forster,  and  the  twodermaii  divisions,  consistinf!; 
of  the  refiinients  Yon  Hiedosol  and  Von  Spci-ht  and  lod  by 
Urigadier  (rcneral  Spccht  wore  to  follow  on  the  Oth.  IJriga- 
dier  8poeht  was  to  command  the  entire  Oerman  divisions.  On 
the  7tli,  the  third  English  division,  composed  of  the  2-lth,  47th 
and  (J2d  regiments,  under  the  command  of  Tlrigadier  Hamilton, 
was  to  follow.  The  latter  also  had  charge  of  the  other  two  Kng- 
lish  divisions.  The  third  (Jerman  division,  which  was  made  up 
of  the  battalion  liarner,  the  regiment  Ilcsse  llanau,  and  the 
Ilunau  artillery  under  Brigadier  Gall,  were  also  to  march  on  the 
same  day.  The  strictest  order  and  discipline,  and  the  avoid- 
ance of  all  trouble  with  the  escort  of  provincials,  were  especially 
enjoined;  and  to  prevent  any  quarrels  and  disorder,  an  officer 
was  given  to  the  commander  of  each  division,  who  was  to  act  aa 
commissary  on  the  march,  and  make  all  necessary  arrangements 
with  the  American  leaders  in  regard  to  (juarters.  All  the 
captured  officers  and  soldiers  were  to  bring  their  complaints 
or  wishes  to  this  commissary;  all  direct  transactions  or  even 
conversation  with  the  Americans,  being  strictly  ])rohibitcd. 
Each  of  these  commissaries  received  daily  five  shillings,  with 
which  to  defray,  if  need  be,  the  most  necessary  expenses. 
In  case,  however,  this  sum  should  not  be  sufficient,  they  were 
authorized  to  draw  upon  tho  commanders  of  regiments,  who 
were  ordered  in  such  cases  to  advance  money  out  of  the  regi- 
mental fund. 

Immediately  upon  the  order  for  the  march  being  issued,  Hied- 
esel  obtained  permission  from  the  commissary  to  send  for  two 
officers.  Captain  Von  Baertling  and  captain  of  cavalry  Fricke, 
that  they  might  receive  from  him.  personally,  directions  in  rela- 
tion to  the  German  prisoners  still  at  Rutland  and  Westminster. 
These  officers  were  enjoined  to  use  their  utmost  exertions  to 
gather  together  the  deserters.  They  received,  also,  cloth  and 
blankets'  for  the  troops,  together  with  the  permission  to  take 
the  re(|uisite  amount  of  money  for  present  necessities  from  the 
Hessian  funds  in  New  York  and  Rhode  island.     General  Ried- 


48 


M.Uon  (/KXK/iAf.  IllKDRSKl. 


I'HoI  wroto  ill  rojiiird  tn  this  to  tho  lloswiau  coiiiiiiandfrs,  Von 
Kiiypliaust'ii  and  Jiosborj;. 

General  Heath  made  niiinerous  objcetionH  to  tlic  muiiber  of 
teams  necessary  for  the  inareli.  At  hist,  I'hillips  h)st  all  patience 
and  declared  thiit  he  iiii<;ht  send  the  wounded  and  sick  prisoners 
for  excliaii<j;e  to  l{hode  island  by  water,  or  to  (jliarlottesville,  as 
it  was  utterly  impossible  to  take  thorn  upon  such  a  long  and 
tedious  march  even  with  an  ample  supply  of  toains.  Upon  this, 
Heath  answered  that  he  had  no  jiower  to  do  anything  further ;  ho 
would,  however,  consent  that  those  who  were  unable  t<i  march, 
should  remain  in  the  hospital  at  Cambridge.  This  necessarily 
gave  rise  to  various  explanations  and  orders,  and  the  march  was 
accordingly  postponed  to  the  !)th. 

This  pos:poiienient  was  a  source  of  great  gratification  to  the 
two  generals,  as  neither  the  English  jiaymaster,  nor  Godecke,  nor 
(,'aptain  (^impbell  had  yet  returned  from  their  quest  for  money 
in  llhode  island,  and  it  was  of  the  last  importance  that  funds 
should  be  obtained  before  starting  on  the  march.  Regarding 
this,  Hiedesel's  jfuirnal  says: 

"The  want  of  money  was  one  of  critical  importance  in  our 
position  at  that  time.  All  tho  officers,  who  had  money,  were 
obliged  to  lend  it  for  the  use  of  the  troops,  who  in  this  manner 
received  their  pay  in  hard  cash.  Those  officers  that  were  in 
need  of  money  had  as  much  furnished  them  as  was  necessary  to 
procure  horses,  etc.,  for  their  long  journey.  Nor  was  this  any 
more  than  fair,  as  several  months'  pay  was  already  duo  them. 
This  arrangement  was  somewhat  of  a  help,  it  is  true,  but  not 
nenrly  eiuuigh  to  satisfy  the  demands  of  all.  This  being  the 
state  of  affairs,  Riedesel,  who  alone  corresponded  with  Heath, 
requested  the  eommandor  at  Boston,  in  the  name  of  General 
Phillips,  to  postpone  the  march  of  the  troops  for  a  few  days 
until  the  return  of  those  officers  that  had  been  sent  to  New 
York  and  Newport." 

This  extract  will  show  how  carefully  the  German  general 
looked  after  the  welfare  of  his  troops,  and  how  the  wants  of  tho 


IN  rilK  A  M Kit  I  (A. \  HKVOhVTlOS. 


40 


privati's  \soxv  taken  fiiic  of  hy  tlic  ofliccr.s.  IiuU-cd,  not  ii  few 
t)t'  the  latter  iit'terwiird  I'onml  tlieniselveM  exposed  to  coiisitleralilo 
snft'ering  hy  their  nol)lo  welt-denial.  1'iiese  tew  lines  from  the 
jonrnul.  moreover,  will  serve  to  refute  whole  books  written  by 
individuals  who,  in  their  blind  /.oal,  were  anxious  to  represent 
the  treatment  of  the  (iermans  in  the  worst  jiossible  lij^dit. 

The  long  dreaded  Jtth  of  N»>vend)er  at  lenjjth  j)assed,  and 
still  the  lonj^od  for  supplies  came  not.  Phillips  and  Hiedesel, 
therefore,  determined  to  borrow,  on  their  own  eredit,  as  much 
money  as  possilile  in  and  around  lioston.  This  was  connected 
with  jrreat  difficulties,  but  money  must  be  procured  at  every 
sacrifice.  Accordingly,  when  the  troojjs  marched  on  the  Mtli, 
the  two  generals  remained  behind  in  Cambridge  to  negotiate 
for  a  loan. 

On  the  nth,  the  first  two  divisions  began  the  march.  Pre- 
vious, however,  to  taking  their  departure,  all  the  officers  were 
obliged  to  give  their  word  of  honor  in  writing,  that  they  w<puld 
faithfully  carry  out  in  their  place  of  destination  the  promises 
made  by  them  here.  The  wounded,  the  sick  and  the  disabled 
were  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Cambridge,  the  Knglish  ensign, 
Fielding,  being  left  with  them.  Hut  all  who  wcrt;  able  went 
with  the  troops.  Captain  Schlagenteufiel  of  the  reginu-nt 
Specht,  and  Jjieutenant  llheims  of  the  light  battalion  of  the 
Brunswick  troops  were  taken  so  ill,  that  their  recovery  was 
considered  doubtful,  and  they  W(;re,  therefore,  left  behind  in 
their  old  quarters  at  ( 'andjridge. 

(ieneral  Kiedesel  accomjianied  tlu;  first  division  as  far  as 
Watertown.  It  arrived  in  the  evening  at  Sudbury  after  a 
march  of  .seventeen  miles.  His  wife,  3Iadame  Riedesel,  de- 
scribes her  stay  at  Cambridge  as  a  hapj)y  one  under  tli  •  'liiaim- 
stances,  and  says  that  she  would  gladly  have  rem.iincd  there 
with  him  during  the  whole  of  his  captivity.  She  dreaded  the 
journey  chiefly  on  account  of  the  increasing  ill  health  of  her 
husband,  who  was  more  than  ever  subject  to  nervous  excitement, 
oppression  and  headache.     Vexation  and  sorrow  gnawed  con- 


60 


MAJOll  OKXKHA  I.  HltUn-.SKL 


staiilly  at   liis    licart,  iiijiniii^    tlu<    hudy    wliicli    was    aln-ady 
woakitiitMl  i)y  ]i)U'(lHlii|)H.     >liiHt  |irovi(iiiH  tii  the  ntail,  lio  Ixiii^;) 
a  iii'W   Kii^lisli    carriap'  fur  liiniscit'  ami  t'aiiiily,  and    |iri)vid< 
tliciii  ^vitli  all  tliiii^H  nct'df'ii!  for  a  jniinicy  wliiili   would  lake 
tlu'iii  i'r('<|iu>iilly  tlirou<j;li  inlioHpitahic  n'^imis. 

On  the  loth  of  Ntivonibcr,  tlio  Hccond  division  fojlowfd, 
stopping  over  ni^lit  in  tlio  same  placo  that  had  Ikhmi  oi-citpiiMl 
the  nij^ht  previous  liy  the  first  division,  the  latter  having'  <'<>n- 
tinued  its  march  to  Marlhoroufjh  and  thence  to  Shrewshury. 
The  third  division  followed  on  the  11th.  It  was  so  arraMfj;ed 
that  one  division  was  always  one  day  in  advance  of  the  other. 
'IMiese   last    two   divisions    Hiedesel    also   accomiianied  as  I' 


ar  as 


Watertown.     The  j;enerals,  Kiedesel  and  I'hillips,  I'mjyloyed  the 
last  (lavs  of  their  stav  in  Candirid^e  in  siiccessfullv  I'mleavoriufj; 


to  induce  lli-ath  to  ;;rant   several  farms  to  the  tn 


.pi 


Anion 


other  thiiij^s,  that  general  ixranteil  permission  for  those  troops 
who  were  olilij^ed    to  remain   Itehind   at    pres'-nt    on   account  i 


sickness,  to  ma 


ke  tl 


le  |ou 


rney  to  \'ir":inia  hy  water. 


Stron<j  hopes  of  being  rescued  from  cajitivity,  were  imluiged 


in  by  the  prisoners  just  before  beninning  their  march.     ( 


oni- 


missioiicrs  were  aj)poi 


iited  on  both   sides   to  arranu'c  a   "eneral 


oxi'li.itige  ;  and  it  was  confidently  thoufiht  that  news  of  final 
delivca-anci'  would  be  rocoived  by  the  troops  during  their 
march.  Alas  !  these  oxpoctatious  were  also  not  destint'd  to  be 
realized. 

On  the  12tli  of  Novend)er.  the  first  (ierman  division  reached 
Worcester.      On    this    day.    Phillips    received    a    rei)ort   fr 


L'po 


rum 


Brigadier  (leiu'ral  Hamilton,  announcing  that  desertiou,  espe- 
cially among  the  (iermans,  was  greatly  on  the  increase.  Phillips 
immediately  ac((uainted  Hiedesel  with  this  fact,  upon  which 
the  latter  at  once  scut  oft'  an  officer  to  investigate  the  matter. 

On  the  13th,  the  first  (ierman  division  marched  to  Spencer 
by  the  way  of  Leicester  ;  im  the  14tb  to  Brookfield  ;  and  on  the 
15th  to  Palmer.  On  this  last  mentioned  day,  the  officer  dis- 
patched by  Hiedesel  returned  and  reported  that  the   English 


/.V  77/A' .1  l/A7,7r.l  \-  lti:\iil,V  riiix. 


r.i 


liiid  Inst  III)  the  iiiiircli  td  Ki'iMiktit'M  lliir(y->«'\i'ri  iih'M.  mimI  tlit' 
(JiTiiiiiiis  Uvciify;  f*ix,  liuwcviT.  Iiad  icInniiMl. 

Mc'iiiwliilr.  It  i'ltiitiL''('  in  till'  p'dvci  iiiiii-iit  :if  Itiihtmi  litid  lakrii 
]ilii('c,  I  iciirral  <iiil('S  liMviii^' ,MU('('i'('<li'(|  (ifru'ral  llciitli.  'I'liis 
cliaiip!  tit  iiiK^c!  put  nil  t'liil  til  tlii^  ari'i'Mt  nt' (iciuiiil  l'liilli|i.x. 

On  tli(>  Ititli,  tlic  first  (liviHioii  arrived  at  Williraliain,  iiiar 
(lir  liiKi  liclwi'i'ii  .MiissacliiiS('(l>  liay  and  ('iphim  ('(iciit,  ( )n  the 
ITlii.  it  ri'iit'lidd  Mnliidd,  un  tins  ('unnccticul  river.  Here 
( Mineral  I'n^VMst  was  iiept  a  |irisiiiiir.  Tiie  trdops  were  ulilij^ed 
til  ei'iiHS  tlii^  river  at  this  |iiiint  ;  and  the  inareli  was.  in  emise- 
(jlU!lici\  jireatly  delayed.  N'evertlieless.  liiey  arrived  in  tlie 
oveiiiii;;'  at  tlutir  destiiuMl  i|iiart(!i's  in  Siitlieid.  On  the  I'.llh, 
tluifirMt  diviHiiiii  rotu'lieil  Siiiisliiiiy  ;  on  the  2<ttii,  .New  llerliird  ; 
and  on  tiie  21st.  Nnrl'nlk. 

Ilitiiertu  th(^  triiii|is  had  heeii  <|iiarter(;d  only  in  harns. 
Nevertiicless,  they  wore  always  widi  pleas.'d  with  their  ijiiarters 
if  iiiily  line  ennqiaiiy  wen;  ]inl  in  a  liarii.  liiil  it  snmetiines 
liapiieiied  Yliiit  (iiic  or  two  rei;iiiieiits  Were  jihieed  ill  out!  Imild- 
inji;.  In  siicli  eases  iin  rest  cdHld  he  nhtained  hy  rcasuii  nC  so 
many  heiiij;  liuddled  tiij;ether.  Notwiilistandin^',  also,  that 
eertaiii  viiluj^eH  woro  always  designated  in  advanei;  as  quarters 
for  the  soldiers,  the  latter  seldoiii  t'oiind  siiHicient  aeeniiiiiii)- 
datioiis  ;  and  they  wert;  ohliued.  therel'ore,  to  avail  tlunnselves 
of  the  farnihmise.s  alon;:;  the  roadside.  'I'liiis  eiiin]iaiiies  and 
regiiiKMits  were  at  times  miles  asunder.  Kverythinji-.  iiowevor, 
up  to  this  time  had  gone  on  quietly  and  in  good  order;  and 
the  men  had  withstood  cdieerfiilly  and  with  eoiiram;.  their  many 
liardsliips  and  privations.  Nor  had  then;  a.s  yet  l)(>eii  any 
difficulty  between  the  prisoners  and  their  escort. 

At  Norfolk  the  march  began  to  be  extremely  difficult.  It 
was  now  to  be  continued  over  mountains  and  through  the  pri- 
meval forest.  The  roads  were  covered  with  ice  ;  a  cold  wind 
drove  the  snow  and  sleet  into  the  iaees  of  the  men.  1'lie  inarch 
was  slow  ;  and  it  was  impossible  to  reach  the  place  that  had 
been  designated  as  their  nuarters  for  the  night.  The  weary 
7* 


62 


MAJOR  GENERAL  RIEDESEL 


troops,  therefore,  bivouiickcd  in  the  woods,  in  the  midst  of  a 
pelting  rain,  witliout  straw,  wet  to  the  skin.  The  country  was 
very  wild.  Naked  anil  steep  rocks  rose  up  on  either  side,  and 
foainin}^  waters  rushed  over  precipices  and  pieces  of  rock. 
Only  the  valleys  were  covered  with  woods. 

On  the  23d,  after  crossing  the  Ilousatonic,  the  troops  marched 
to  Salisbury.  Here  17,000  paper  thalers  arrived,  having  been 
sent  on  from  Cambridge  by  (leneral  Riedesel. 

Major  Hopkins,  who  had  been  appointed  commissary  by  the 
Americans,  gave  universal  satisfaction.  He  had  accompanied 
the  troops  as  far  as  Connecticut,  when  he  returned  to  Cam- 
bridge. IJrigadier  Generuls  Hamilton,  Spccht  and  Gall,  sent 
back  by  him  their  reports  to  Phillips  and  Kiedesel.  The  latter 
saw  by  these  reports  that  the  English  had  lost  fifty  men  by 
desertion,  the  Bruuswickers  thirty  and  the  regiment  Ilesse 
Ilanau  twonty-thrce.  Eight  of  the  IJrunswickers,  however, 
voluntarily  returned  to  their  respective  companies. 

On  the  25th,  Captain  Campbell  returned  from  his  mission 
which  had  proved  an  entire  failure.  General  Prescott,  to  whom 
the  captain  had  applied,  returned  the  curt  answer,  that '•  he 
could  give  no  money  from  his  funds  to  the  captured  troops,  as 
he  believed  his  orders  prohibited  such  a  course."  Neither 
could  any  person  in  New  York  be  found  willing  to  lend  money 
for  that  purpose. 

This  intelligence  came  upon  the  two  generals  like  a  thunder- 
bolt ;  for  they  had  been  expecting  hourly  Campbell's  return 
with  a  well  filled  purse.  General  Riedesel's  predicament,  how- 
ever, was  worse  than  Phillips's,  since  he  had  borrowed  the  above 
mentioned  70,000  thalers  from  merchants  in  IJoston,  by  promis- 
ing to  refund  the  amount  in  a  few  days  when  he  should  receive 
funds  from  Khode  island.  There  was  no  little  excitement 
among  these  merchants  when  they  heard  of  the  failure  of 
Captain  Campbell's  mission,  and,  with  great  heat,  they  demanded 
of  General  Hiedesel  their  money.  He  confessed  to  them  frankly 
that  no  money  could  be  expected  from  Rhode  island,  and  that 


IN  THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION. 


53 


his  only  hope  was  now  in  General  Clinton.  Fie  further  s:iid, 
that  all  he  at  present  Cduld  do,  would  be  to  give  them  drafts 
on  Germany  or  England.  At  the  same  time  he  offered  to  give 
them  his  person  as  security  until  the  money  was  paid. 

But  of  what  use  could  the  general's  person  be  to  the  Boston 
merchants  'i*  They,  accordingly,  accepted  the  offer  of  the  drafts. 
There  was,  however,  one  exception,  viz :  a  merchant  from 
Mystic,  who  had  lent  one  thousand  guineas.  This  one  would 
hear  nothing  of  a  draft.  He  came  with  a  justice  of  the  peace 
and  a  constable  to  Riedesel's  quarters,  and  demanded  in  a 
terrible  state  of  excitement  his  money,  threatening,  in  case  of  a 
refusal,  to  arrest  the  general  and  bring  him  to  trial  before 
a  civil  magistrate.  The  general  ({uietly  responded  that  he  was 
unable  to  offer  anything  but  good  drafts,  and  if  the  gentleman 
insisted  on  his  arrest,  he  would  have  to  put  up  with  it.  At 
length  the  merchant,  perceiving  by  the  quiet  demeanor  of 
Riedesel,  that  nothing  could  be  accompli-shed  by  threats,  and 
knowing  that  he  would  have  to  bear  the  expenses  of  the  arrest 
and  trial,  came  to  terms  and  accepted  the  drafts. 

On  the  5th,  after  a  hard  march,  the  troops  arrived  at  Sharon. 
Here  again,  they  were  forced  to  cross  steep  and  high  mountains 
along  narrow  paths  where  only  two  men  could  walk  abreast ;  a 
circumstance  whjch  greatly  protracted  the  march. 

General  Washington,  who  had  made  Vishkill  his  bead  quarters 
iit  this  time,  was  careful  to  send  to  the  left  of  the  prisoners  a 
few  brigades  in  addition  to  the  regular  Anu^rican  escort.  This 
he  did,  partly  through  fear  that  Clinton,  in  whom  hi;  had  no 
confidence,  would  undertake  something  in  their  favor,  and 
partly  also  through  fear  of  the  inhabitants,  a  largo  number  of 
whom  he  knew  to  be  still  loyal  to  tlie  king.  Nor  was  his  fear 
regarding  Clinton  without  foundation  ;  for  the  latter  had 
already  sent  a  few  frigates,  manned  with  land  troops,  up  the 
river.  The  plan  was  to  force  the  passage  of  the  narrows,  in  the 
highlands,  and  then  attack  the  post  at  Peekskill,  by  which  it 
was  thought  that  the  prisoners  might  be  rescued,  or  at  least  an 


54 


.VAJOR  GENERAL  RIEPESEL 


opportunity  aftordod  sonic  of  tliciii  to  escape.  Hut  the  niiiny 
t'ortificatiouH  anioiif!;  the  hif^hlaiuls  rendered  tlie  passage  of  the 
narrows  impossible,  and  the  expedition  failed.  Nevertheless,  a 
few  hundred  English  soldiers  succeeded  in  making  their  escape 
and  reaching  the  ships. 

I'pon  their  arrival  at  Sharon  the  troops  were  close  to  the 
Connecticut  boundary  line.  They  bivouacked  ''  ^he  woods 
close  to  the  Xine  Partners. 

The  writer  '  of  the  journal,  so  often  ((uoted  in  this  work,  gives 
a  short  description  of  the  spirit  of  the  province  at  this  period. 
It  may,  perhaps,  be  of  interest  to  quote  here  from  his  pen  as 
those  states  mentioned  by  him  have  since  progressed  more  rapidly 
in  culture  and  population  than  any  of  the  others.  The  journal  siiys : 

"In  traveling  through  the  diiferent  provinces  of  North  Ame- 
rica, one  canudt  help  noticing  the  dift'erence  which  exists  between 
them.  One  sees  in  a  moment  the  genius  of  the  inhabitants  in 
their  mode  of  living  and  culture.  Thus,  in  the  province  of 
Massachusetts  bay,  the  inclination  of  the  people  is  for  commerce, 
navigation  and  the  military  art.  The  numerous  Kuropeans,  who 
daily  visit  the  harbor  of  IJoston  for  the  purpose  of  trading,  have 
introduced,  besides  the  new  fashions  and  extravagance  in  dress, 
a  sort  of  luxurious  and  idle  life.  Consequently,  agriculture,  as 
a  general  thing,  is  poorly  attended  to.  The  greater  portion, 
also,  of  the  inhabitants  in  the  rural  districts,  either  carry  on  a 
small  store  or  keep  taverns,  whereby  they  make  a  livelihood 
without  much  trouble.  It  is  only  at  the  new  country  seats, 
built 'by  a  few  wealthy  Englishmen  about  thirty  years  ago,  that 
agriculture  and  horticulture  is  properly  attended  to.  The  native, - 
gets  along  with  Indian  corn,  cabbage,  potatoes  and  fruit,  all  of 
which  the  rich  .soil  produces  without  much  trouble  on  his  part. 
It  would,  therefore,  not  be  difficult  for  the  inhabitants  to  raise 
much  cattle  ;  but  as  it  is,  they  get  along  with  salt  pork,  the 


'  Uiodcscl. 

'■"  I.  c,  a  iiiitivc  born  AmcriLnii. 


AV  THE  AMERICAN  liEVOLUTIOX. 


55 


aniiimls  fmui  which  this  is  made,  <rrowinp;  up  at  hirgc  in  the 
woods.  3Iany  horses  are  raised,  the  breed  of  which  could  be 
greatly  improved.  The  men  and  women  are  generally  well 
formed  and  of  good  growth,  but  the  beauty  of  the  latt(!r  is  of 
short  duration.  They  grow  old  very  early  and  become  homely. 
The  population  is  large,  but  nf»t  many  old  people  are  to  be  seen. 
Most  of  the  males  have  a  strong  passion  for  strong  drinks, 
especially  rum  and  other  alcoholic  beverages.  The  females  of 
all  cla.sses  are  well  educated,  and  can  all  write.  All  are  fond  of 
dress,  and  are  dressed  up  every  day,  even  the  women  of  the  lower 
classes.  They  ride  very  well  on  horseback  ;  love  music  and 
dancing;  but  hardly  ever  work.  The  man  has  to  do  the  house- 
work, and  wait  upon  his  lady.  The  women  love  to  domineer, 
and  the  spirit  of  rebellion  is  more  deeply  rooted  in  their  hearts, 
than  in  those  of  the  men.  Besides  the  taste  for  commerce, 
the  New  Englander  has  considerable  talent  for  the  military  art. 
Industry,  they  have  little  to  do  with,  although  a  few  good  me- 
chanics are  found  among  them,  especially  hatters,  tanners, 
saddlers,  etc.  The  great  fault  with  them  is,  that  he  who  has 
saved  a  little  by  his  trade,  starts  either  a  small  store,  or  seeks  a 
position  of  military  honor,  lu  their  own  houses  they  are  cleanly. 
"  The  inhabitants  of  the  jij-ovinee  of  Connecticut  are  much  more 
industrious  and  diligent.  The  women  dress  more  modestly,  and 
are  good  housekeepers.  Agriculture  flourishes,  and  the  breed- 
ing of  cattle  is  a  source  to  them  of  great  wealth.  The  manu- 
facture of  linen  and  woolen  goods  is  as  yet  in  its  infancy.  The 
weaving  loimi  is  the  pastime  of  the  women,  even  among  those 
who  consider  themselves  of  rank;  and  tlie  man  of  the  house 
considers  it  an  honor  to  wear  cloth  that  has  been  made  on  his 
farm.  Connecticut  furnishes  cattle  and  corn  to  the  American 
army.  The  spirit  of  the  inhabitants  is  less  military  than  that 
of  Massachusetts  bay ;  but  the  theatre  of  war  being  near  their 
lines  they  are  carrried  away,  notwithstanding  they  love  peace 
and  labor  rather  than  war.  Many  are  loyal,  and  are  therefore 
exposed  to  the  persecutions  of  the  others. 


66 


MAJOR  GENERAL  RIEDESEL 


"In  the  district  of  New  York,  through  which  we  passed,  are 
many  families  of  Hollanders ;  also  many  Germans.  The  most 
of  the  inhabitants  arc  tories.  Many  avow  this  openly,  and 
many  are  therefore  fugitives.  The  American  army  being  in  the 
heart  of  the  province,  their  hands  are  tied ;  otherwise,  it  is  believed 
that  the  royalists  wimld  be  in  the  majority.  During  the  march 
of  our  troops  through  this  province,  many  offered  to  lead 
parties  of  forty  or  fifty  of  our  men  safely  through  the  woods  to 
the  army  of  General  Clinton ;  but  the  honor  and  the  parole  of  our 
officers  would  not  permit  this.  The  country,  once  so  beautiful 
and  flourishing,  was  entirely  drained  of  its  resources,  and  the 
inhabitants  could  speak  of  nothing  but  the  abundance  and  the 
happiness  they  had  enjoyed  previous  to  this  desolating  war. 
Numbers  of  tories  have  joined  the  disaffected,  who  reside  in 
Canada,  and  have  made  so  much  uproar  in  the  colonics.  3Iost 
of  the  Englisli  inhabitants  are  great  rebels,  but  their  number  is 
not  in  the  majority  in  the  district  through  which  we  have 
passed." 

The  first  division  took  up  their  quarters  on  the  27th  of  No- 
vember at  Heekman's,  having  passed  that  day  a  village  in  the 
middle  of  a  forest. 

On  the  28th  of  November,  General  Riedesel  and  family  started 
from  Cambridge  in  two  carriages.  Himself  and  family  rode  in 
one,  and  his  servants  in  the  other,  which  served  also  for  a  bag- 
gage wagon.  General  Phillips  remained  a  few  days  longer. 
General  Gates,  who  had  succeeded  Heath  in  the  command  at 
Boston,  by  his  customary  friendly  demeanor,  made  the  few 
remaining  days  of  Kicdcsel's  stay  very  pleasant.  It  seemed  as 
if  he  wished  to  neutralize  the  unpleasant  conduct  of  his  pre- 
decessor. In  fact,  there  is  no  question  that  if  this  brave  man 
had  made  his  appearance  sooner  in  lioston,  much  trouble  would 
have  been  spared  to  the  general,  as  well  as  much  suffering  to 
the  troop.s. 

Gates  did  all  in  his  jxiwer  to  make  the  journey  for  Riedesel 
and  his  family  as  comfortable  as  possible.     He  sent  with  them, 


IX  THE  AMEIilCAN  li EVOLUTION. 


57 


as  an  escort,  Colonel  Troup,  with  orders  to  aeconipany  the 
travelers  as  fur  as  the  province  of  Jersey,  and  procure  for  them 
the  best  of  provisions,  horses,  quarters,  etc. ;  in  short  everything 
that  was  necessary  for  their  comfort.  He  even  went  so  far  as  to 
give  lliedesel  letters  to  influential  persons  who  resided  jn  those 
sections  of  the  country  where  it  would  be  diflicult  to  obtain  good 
lodgings.  Thus,  the  American  and  German  generals  parted  in 
the  most  cordial  manner. 

On  the  28tli,  the  troops  arrived  at  Fishkill,  the  head  quarters, 
at  this  time,  of  General  AVashington.  Speaking  of  the  latter, 
the  journal  says:  "General  Washington  saw  all  our  divisions 
and  treated  our  officers  with  great  politeness.  All  that  can 
possibly  be  said  against  this  num  is,  pity  is  it,  that  a  man  of  his 
character  and  talents  should  be  a  rebel  against  his  king." 

On  the  29th,  the  English  troops  were  ferried  across  the 
Hudson  in  the  midst  of  a  severe  storm ;  nor  was  it  until  the 
third  day  that  the  passage  was  entirely  accomplished.  After 
the  English  troops  had  crossed,  they  waited  for  the  Germans 
to  follow  them  over  the  river.  At  Fishkill.  the  officers  received 
sufficient  forage  money  for  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  days,  and 
the  soldiers  stockings  and  shoes.  This  caused  universal  joy. 
These  articles  had  been  sent  by  (Jlinton  directly  by  way  of 
"Washington's  head  quarters,  as  he  felt  sure  from  that  general's 
character  that  the  troops  would  receive  them. 

The  Brunswickers  lost  during  this  month  fifty  men  by  de- 
sertion. 

On  the  1st  of  December,  the  fir.^t  and  second  German  divisions 
were  conveyed  across  the  river  to  Xcwburgh.  The  same  day 
the  third  German  division  also  arrived  at  Fishkill.  General 
Washington  was  now  more  than  usually  vigilant,  hearing;  as 
mentioned  above,  that  Clinton  would  make  a  diversion  in  favor 
of  the  prisoners. 

As  soon  as  all  the  troops  had  crossed,  the  American  general 
in  chief  changed  his  head  quarters  to  the  Raritan  river  in  the 
province  of  New  Jersey ;  and  the  Marquise  de  Lafayette,  who 


58 


MAJOR  OBNEUAL  RIEDESEL 


up  til  tliis  tiino  had  hecii  with  WaHliiujiton.  went  to  JJo.ston.  On 
his  jdiiriicy  lie  met  Uiedesel's  military  and  personal  family  at 
Hartford,  where  the  travelers  had  halted  a  day  for  rest.  Kicd- 
cscl,  who  had  arrived  in  advance  of  the  others,  and  was 
ot'('ii])yinu  the  only  <;(iod  tavern  in  the  place,  invited  the 
mar(|uiso  and  his  escort  to  dinner,  knowing  that  the  French- 
man loved  a  good  table.  lie  accepted  the  invitation  and  during 
the  meal  appeared  very  amiable  and  friendly.  The  conversation 
being  carried  on  only  in  French,  the  American  officers  of  liufay- 
ette's  staff  who  were  present,  not  understanding  that  language, 
expressed  by  their  looks  great  dissatisfaction  —  thinking  perhaps, 
that  Uiedosel  was  endeavoring  to  make  a  proselyte  of  the  French 
general.'  The  latter  spoke  in  high  terms  of  England,  especially 
of  the  kindness  of  the  king  as  manifested  toward  him  during  his 
stay  in  that  country.  I'pon  this  Mrs.  lliedesel  crtuld  not  let  slip 
the  opportunity  (if  making  a  few  sly  remarks  upon  the  fact  that 
while,  according  to  liis  own  confession,  he  was  the  recipient  of 
kind  attentions  from  the  king,  he  was  about  offering  his 
services  to  his  majesty's  enemies.  This  attack  of  his  fair 
hostess  embarr<i.ssed  the  otherwise  versatile  Frenchman  not  a 
little.  Indeed,  before  his  depai'ture  from  England  for  America, 
he  was  accused  of  being  a  spy.  The  Juitvmil  states  that  Lafay- 
ette fell  in  with  lliedesel  purposely  on  this  journey.  Speaking 
of  the  former,  it  says  :  "  Besides  his  manly,  physical  beauty,  he 
possesses  the  politeness  of  a  Frenchman  of  high  birth.  In 
modesty  he  outdoes  his  nation,  thereby  proving  still  more  his 
noble  lineage." 

On  the  2d  of  December,  the  first  German  division  marched 
to  Otter  hill  and  Groshen-town ;  and  on  the  3d,  by  the  way  of 
Florida  to  Warwick,  the  last  town  in  the  province  of  New  York. 
On  the  J:th,  they  crossed  the  line  and  halted  for  the  night  at 
Hardy's  town  in  Jersey.      Ou  the  5th,  they  reached  Sussex 


>  As  both  Rtedesul  and  Lafayette  could  speak  English,  this  troatmeut  of  the  Ame- 
rican officers  was  far  ft-om  courteous.  .  , 


y.V  TIIH  AMKIilCAN  UKVOLUTION. 


59 


court  house;  and  on  the  fith,  Endeavor,  wliere  they  were 
obliged  to  remain  until  the  !»th,  while  waiting  for  teams.  On 
this  day,  they  again  started  and  marched  as  far  as  llaket's 
town.  On  the  10th  they  were  at  Changewater;  on  the  11th, 
at  Pittstown;  and  on  the  12th,  at  Evcrit,  on  the  Delaware. 
That  river  forms  at  this  point,  the  boundary  line  between  the 
provinces  of  Jersey  and  J'cnnsylvania. 

llithertb  the  roads  had  been  bad  beyond  all  description,  often, 
indeed,  almost  impassable.  In  the  best  of  weather  they  were 
miserable,  but  now  they  had  been  rendered  n  hundred  times 
worse  by  the  continual  rain  and  snow.  The  shoes  of  the  sol- 
diers frequently  stuck  fast  in  the  mud,  rendering  inarching 
extremely  difficult.  General  lliedcsel  did  his  best  to  c(  nie  up 
with  the  troops,  but  was  unsuccessful.  The  greatest  trouble 
was  experienced  in  raising  a  sufficient  quantity  of  hors^js.  >rrs. 
lliedesel,  with  her  children,  was  in  constant  danger;  and  the 
English  adjutant,  Ednionston,  often  dismounted  to  assist  her 
servants  in  preventing  the  carriage  from  being  upset. 

On  the  18th  of  December,  the  travelers  arrived  at  Fishkill ; 
and  notwithstanding  the  exertions  of  the  American  commander, 
Major  Douglass,  to  collect  the  needed  number  of  horses,  they 
were  forced  to  remain  here  until  the  18th.  The  same  experi- 
ence also  attended  General  Phillips,  who  had  started  from  Cam- 
bridge on  the  1st  of  December  with  the  intention  of  catchin<>- 
up  with  lliedesel.  Colonel  Troup  being  obliged  to  return  in 
a  few  days  to  Boston,  lliedesel  reciuested  Washington  to  send 
him  another  officer  in  place  of  the  colonel. 

On  the  same  day  (the  18th),  the  first  of  the  German  troops 
crossed  the  Tokiken  river,  and  halted  at  IJIamstedt  in  Bank's 
county,  Penn.  On  the  l-4th,  they  reached  3Iontgoniery  in 
Philadelphia  county,  and  on  the  15th,  New  Providence.  On 
the  IGth,  they  crossed  the  Schuykill,  near  Downing  town,  to 
Valley  Forge.     Here  a  few  days  of  rest  were  given  them. 

On  the  17th,  the  march  was  continued  to  Salisbury ;  thence,  on 
the  19th,  across  the  IJrandywine  to  Leekok  township;  theucc 
8* 


60 


MA./ on  OENEUAL  lUEDESKL 


across  the  CanoHtoga  river  to  Lancaster,  where,  on  the  20th, 
they  had  another  day  of  rest.  On  the  21  st,  the  march  was 
continued  to  Hampton,  and  on  the  22d,  the  Susquehanna  was 
crossed  near  Wifjht's  ferry,  and  (juarters  taken  for  tlie  night 
at  Yorktown.  On  the  23d,  McAllister  town  (Hanover)  was 
reached,  where  the  24th  was  spent  as  a  day  of  rest.  The  25th 
found  them  at  I'ater-Little,  the  last  town  in  Jersey.  On  the 
2Gth,  the  boundary  was  passed  and  the  troops  quartered  at 
Tawney  town. 

The  Journal  thus  speaks  of  these  two  states  :  "  The  province 
of  Jersey  is,  as  a  whole,  populous  and  as  well  cultivated  as  that 
portion  of  New  York  through  which  we  passed.  A  great  many 
Irishmen  have  settled  here,  whose  ufitural  abilities  .are  pretty  fair, 
though  they  do  not  equal  the  Germans  in  economy  and  in  the 
cultivation  of  the  soil.  Nor  do  they  by  any  means  come  up  to  the 
Hcrrenhiitors,  who,  forty  years  since,  settled  a  few  places,  among 
which  is  Bethlehem,  on  the  line  of  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania. 
Occasionally  one  sees  beautiful  settlements  belonging  to  the 
quakers.  So  far  as  we  have  had  an  opportunity  of  judging  the 
sentiments  of  the  people,  we  should  say  that,  perhaps,  not  one- 
fifth  of  them  are  loyal  to  the  cause  t>f  the  king.  The  inhabit- 
ants of  this  province  are  very  likely  in  fear  of  the  stronger 
party,  the  army  being  quartered  among  them.  Many  have  left 
their  property  and  enlisted  in  the  royal  army. 

"  The  state  of  Pennsylvania  may  be  said  to  be  as  well  culti- 
vated and  populated  as  the  best  German  province.  Besides 
her  chief  city  Philadelphia,  it  has  many  large  and  beautiful 
cities,  and  is  the  corn  magazine  for  the  middle  provinces  of 
North  America.  Inasmuch  also  as  it  has  been  made  rich  by 
industry,  its  prosperity  is  an  honor  to  the  German  nation. 
The  raising  of  cattle  is  extensively  carried  on.  Accordingly, 
Pennsylvania  furnishes  most  of  the  teams  for  the  army.  It 
has  very  good  linen  and  woolen  factories.'  In  the  manufacture 
of  linen  and  leather,  the  inhabitants  are  independent  of  Europe. 
There  is,  however,  as  yet.  a  want  of  dye-houses.     The  inhabit- 


/.V  TIW  AMEIilCAX  nSVOlVTWX. 


61 


ants  aro  poaccaMo  and  tcinpcrato,  smd  have  a  ^'veat  likiiij;  for 
af,'riculturo  and  niecliaiiieal  trades.  Tliis  lattor  fact  may,  per- 
haps, bo  owing  to  tho  principles  of  tlio  diftorent  religious  sects. 
The  Quaker,  for  in.stance,  is  not  allowed  to  go  to  war,  unless  ho 
renounces  his  doctrine.  The  same  is  true  of  the  Deiikers  or 
Anabaptists.  The  province  is  full  of  these  two  sects.  Tho 
Reformed  Dutch  and  the  Lutherans  aro  the  only  ones  who  can 
be  had  for  militia.  Tho  others,  however,  are  obliged  to  pay  a 
fine.  The  inhabitants  of  both  sexes  aro  not  as  sjood  lookiu". 
nor  of  as  preiiy  a  form  as  those  of  New  England.  Tho  royal 
party  is  strong,  but  their  opposition  to  the  whigs  is  of  not  much 
account,  as  their  religion  forbids  their  acting  in  a  hostile  man- 
ner. Our  troops  were  received  in  some  of  their  houses  far  too 
well,  as  we  knew  to  our  sorrow."  ' 

On  the  27th,  the  first  division  crossed  tho  large  and  small 
Bempaip  creek,  and  were  quartered  at  Bempaip  llunnert.  On 
tlie  2J)th  they  crossed  the  Manakessi  river  and  reached  Frede- 
rick's town.  On  the  30th,  they  arrived  at  Charlestown,  near 
the  Potomac.  This  river  forms  at  this  place  the  boundary  line 
between  Maryland  and  Virginia.  Speaking  of  the  former,  tho 
JourtutJ  says : 

"  Maryland,  as  far  as  regards  cultivation,  is  very  similar  in 
appearance  to  Pennsylvania,  although  it  is  far  behind  the  latter. 
The  country  on  the  Potomac  is  beautiful  and  fertile.  The 
Germans  and  English  are  hero  about  in  tho  same  proportion. 
There  are,  perhaps,  a  few  tories  in  the  province,  but  they  aro 
not  allowed  to  manifest  their  feelings  openly.  Fredei-ick's 
town  is  a  pleasant  inland  city." 

On  New  Year's  eve.  1778,  the  Gorman  troops  first  stopped 
on  to  the  soil  of  Virginia,  a  country  which  had  boon  described 
by  the  people  around  Boston  as  a  real  Kl  Dorado.  The  soldiers 
crossed  the  Potomac  near  Knowland's  ferry  and  bivouacked 
during  tho  night  in  tho  woods  in  London  county.     Here  they 


«>i 


'  Because  some  of  tho  GcrmanH,  in  consequence,  deserted.—  Note  to  oHginal. 


02 


MA./Oll  OfiXKllAl  IZ/K/JhSKL 


romuiimd  dvor  Now  Vcmr's  day,  for  the  purjxisc  of  rocuvoring 
from  tlioir  futij^iu!.  Hero  (icriiiiiiiy'8  hdiih  laid  in  tho  woodH, 
wot  and  cold,  in  .xmiw  a  fiMit  dt'up,  with  a  j,'liH>niy  futnro  in 
Htiiro  fur  thoni.  I'cihaiis,  t^acii  of  thtun  thou<;lit  of  hiH  Imnic  in 
tlu!  distant  fathorlaiid,  of  dear  roiationH  and  friondH,  of  tho 
days  of  liiH  boyhood,  and  of  tho  joys  of  former  Now  Year's 
nights,  passed,  never  to  return.  Tho  fires  wliicdi  were  itopt 
going  with  green  wood  emitted  seareely  any  warmtli.  All  was 
cohl  and  elioeiless.  In  tliat  dreary  primeval  forest,  naught 
was  liea:d  save  the  dismal  moaning  of  tho  wind  among  the  old 
tree  tops ;  and  while  some  laid  on  the  snow  eovered  ground  to 
rest  their  tired  and  aehing  lind)S,  others  meditated  sadly  he- 
sides  the  eamp  fires.  In  this  nuinncr  tho  Ciormans  spent  tho 
New  Year's  night  in  tho  wilds  of  North  America. 

On  the  2d  of  January,  1770,  the  first  division  reached  tho 
little  hamlet  of  Leesburgh.  where  the  troops  were  miserably 
(juartered  in  barns  and  in  the  cabins  of  the  negro  slaves,  bo- 
longing  to  a  planter.  On  tho  !kl,  the  division  cro.ssed  Crooso 
creek  and  bivouacked  in  Leicester.  On  tho  4th,  it  was 
quartered  near  a  tavern,  called  Road's  house,  in  King  Wil- 
liam's county.  On  the  r)th,  it  reached  Fouquier  court  house, 
in  tho  same  county. 

On  tho  7th,  the  same  division  cros,sed  the  Happahanock  in 
Culpepper  county  ;  and.  on  the  8th,  (Uilpojtper  court  house. 
On  tho  9th,  the  arm  of  the  above  named  river  was  likewise 
crossed,  the  troops  remaining  that  night  in  tho  same  county. 
Tho  Robertson  river  was  reached  on  the  10th,  and  crossed  on 
tho  11th,  the  men  arriving  the  same  evening  at  Orange  court 
house.  During  the  night  there  was  a  heavy  frost,  an  occur- 
rence which  soldoni  happens  in  those  southern  parts.  The 
12th,  was  passed  in  this  county,  and  by  tho  13th,  Albormarle 
county  was  entered.  On  the  14th,  the  division  crossed  the 
James  to  Charlnttosville;  and,  on  the  15th  of  January,  reached 
their  place  of  destination.  Tho  barracks  were  not  yet  com- 
pleted.    The  foundation,  it  is  true,  was  laid,  but  tho  snow  had 


/.V  rilH  AMhUllVAS  UEVOLITIOS. 


03 


wattonid  tho  workinoii ;  nnd  tlu-  troops,  oh  tlit-ir  arrival,  holidil 
iiotliiiif^  hut  a  liilly  Hurfaco  cuvored  with  hiiow.  This  was  tho 
first  picture  that  gfcetod  their  viHion  in  this  j^roatly  prai.sed 
country ! 

We  ktf't  (lenoral  Riedesel  and  his  family  at  Fishkill.  Dnrinjj; 
this  journey  he  experienced  niucli  that  was  disa)j;real)le,  and 
suffered  many  wronj^H  from  the  inhahitants  who  were  to  a  man, 
in  favor  of  "  the  cause  of  freedom."  Souio  of  tlioni  scarcely 
would  grant  a  shelter  to  the  weary  travelers,  even  when  extreme 
fatigue  prevented  tlietn  going  a  step  further,  and  it  would  have 
been  still  worse  for  them,  had  not  Madame  lliedesel  been  in 
tho  party.  Uy  her  cloquonco  and  patience,  she  knew  how  to 
move  these  obdurate  people. 

The  passage  across  the  Hudson  in  a  miserable  skiff  in  tho 
midst  of  stormy  weather,  was  attended  with  extreme  danger  ; 
and  competent  judges,  who  afterward  heard  of  it,  could  scarcely 
understand  how  it  was  that  it  had  been  so  successfully  accom- 
plished.' The  river  having  been  safely  crossed,  the  party 
continued  their  journey  as  far  as  the  residence  of  an  American 
colonel,  by  the  name  of  Ilorborn,'-  to  whom  Riedesel  had  a 
letter  from  (Jates.  They  were  received  by  him  in  a  most 
friendly  manner,  notwithstanding  he  was  a  great  enemy  to  tho 
royalists,  as  well  as  a  very  blunt  man. 

The  fact  that  General  Riedesel  did  not  arrive  at  lianeaster 
on  the  19th  of  December,  with  tho  troops,  was,  perhaps,  a  most 
fortunate  circumstance ;  for  the  inhabitajits  wore  so  enraged 
against  him,  that  extreme  measures  might  have  been  provoked 
by  his  presence.  Among  the  many  silly  reports  which  were 
circulated  and  believed  in  these  excitable  times  by  the  people 
of  lianeaster,  was  one  to  tho  effect  that  the  city  of  lianeaster, 
and  the  surrounding  country  had  been  presented  to  the  fJerman 


'  Foi'  a  minute  account  ofthirt  i)asxa!,'c  from  .Mr*:.  lllodcKcl's  own  pen,  tliu  reader 
1b  Uf;aiii  referred  to  her  Letters  and  Journals,  piiblinhcd  by  J.  Mtinsell. 
'•'  Probably  Osborii.    Mrs.  Blcdcisel,  nlBo,  spcllH  it  Ilorborn. 


e4 


MAJOIt  UKXJiltAh  lllKimsKL 


m^ 


goiicriil,  by  tho  kiii^  of  Kii^liiiul,  mid  tliiit  tho  gtMiunil  wnulil 
H"on  iirrivu  with  bin  troops  to  takti  poHscssioii.  Tho  oxciteiiieiit 
wiiH.  thcreCort'.  f^rciit  whi'ii  the  (n'nnaii  troops  arrived  ;  but  as 
Hooii  «H  tho  AnuMicaii  officcrH  on  tlic  escort,  cxiilairitid  i\w  truo 
position  of  affairs,  and  tliu  pitial)ltt  condition  of  tho  troops  was 
Hcon,  many  a  good  citizori  of  fjuncastor  wondorod  how  ho  could 
bavo  };ivcn  erodonco  to  such  a  ridiculous  rumor.' 

Snow  had  already  fallen  to  such  a  tb^pth  that  the  carria^^os 
of  tho  <;i'iH'rars  party  could  scarcely  move.  The  coai'hmon,  at 
timoH,  wore  oblij^od  to  take  the  horses  from  tho  vehicles,  iind, 
with  tlio  officers  who  escorted  tho  family,  rido  on  in  advance, 
to  break  a  road.  The  provisions  wt-ro  exhausted  ;  and  very 
often  not  a  particle  of  i'ood  could  bo  had  of  tho  evilly  disposed 
inhabitants  even  for  money.  Mrs.  lliod(^sol  and  her  children 
actually  sufl'ered  from  n\\wv  want,  and  this,  notwithstanding 
b(!r  liusband  and  his  officers  deprived  themselves  of  everything, 
that  the  women  and  children  might  be  provided  for.  Captain 
KduKUiston,  who  out  of  love  for  tho  children,  had  accomj)aniod 
tho  party,  would  often  rido  to  tho  huts,  which  wore  a  little  oflF 
tho  road,  and  beg  provisions  of  tho  inhabitants  ;  but  ho  gene- 
rally returned  from  a  bootless  mission.  The  people  either 
answered  very  curtly,  that  they  had  nothing  themselves,  or  olso 
said  plainly,  that  they  had  no  provisions  for  a  royalist.  Ono 
woman,  who  was  a  thorough  republican,  said  on  ono  occasion 
in  the  presoiico  of  the  Madame  Riedesol  and  her  children  who 
were  weeping  and  trembling  fnmi  cold  and  hunger,  that  it 
would  bo  tho  greatest  pleasure  for  her  to  see  thom  perish  before 
her  eyes.  And  yet  all  these  insults  wore  borne  by  this  noblo 
woman  with  admirable  resignation  ;  and  her  elofjuencc  finallv 
succeeded  in  softening  the  heart  of  this  virago  so  far  ('  'f.  :>'  or 
a  few  hours,  she  offered  to  her  everything  that  si  her 

house  and  cellar. 


'  LaiiciiHter,  at  thin  period,  wiw  ono  of  the  mont  iinportaiit  cities  of  America.     II 
immljcreil  alxmt  nine  Imndred  Iiouki-h.—  \ote  to  ori;/iiinl. 


/.V  Tllh:  AMUItlCAS  itKvui.urios. 


es 


SiKiii  iirtcr  crnHHiii};  tlir  IIiuIhoii,  (icnciiil  Kicdt'st'l.  with  a 
fVw  (if  liin  iKljiitants,  li-l't  liis  rmiiily,  in  (inltT  to  ovcitakt*  liin 
troops.  It  is  lint  known  (Ictinitt'ly  wlicrit  In^  iiiitt  thtnii,  or, 
iiuliicd,  if  ho  ovortook  thoiii  at  all.  Only  this  niiich  is  known 
to  a  t'ortainty.  viz :  that  tho  f:;fnt'ral  waited  for  his  lainily  at 
Collo,  which  is  distant  alioiit  two  hours  from  Chariottcsvillo. 
Here  he  had  hired  a  hon.se,  which  he  was  ot'cupying  when  Mrs. 
Kiedesel  and  the  children  joined  him  ahout  the  middle  of 
Fehruary.  The  party  had  l)eeii  twelve  weeks  on  their  way, 
had  crossed  six  states,  and  had  journeyed  six  hundred  and 
seventy-ei^:ht  miles.  The  house,  hired  hy  Uiedcsel  at  CoUu 
belonj;ed  to  an  Italian,  who,  a  few  weeks  later,  moved  out  of  it, 
leaviii;^;  it,  toj,'ether  with  a  nice  little  {garden,  to  Uiedesel  and  liiH 
family. 

The  troops,  as  already  mentioned,  found  the  barracks  un- 
finished, but  received  the  material,  already  partly  prepared, 
toj^ether  with  the  necessary  tools.  There  was,  therefore,  no- 
thin<:j  left  for  them  but  to  ^o  to  work,  whicb  they  did  witli  a 
will.  They  worked  so  diligently  that  in  a  short  time  a  little 
board  city,  with  regular  streets,  was  built.  It  had  been  confi- 
dently expected  by  the  troops,  that  amjile  provision  would  bo 
made  for  supplies  upon  their  arrival.  On  the  contrary,  how- 
ever, they  suffered  from  actual  want,  as  it  was  found  that  the 
meat,  which  had  been  stored  in  anticipation  of  their  arrival, 
was  all  spoiled.  This  meat,  according  to  the  custom  of  the 
country,  was  kept  in  holes  dug  in  the  ground,  IJut  the  pits 
not  being  sufliciently  deep,  the  meat  conijiosiug  the  upper 
layers  was  rotten,  and  of  course  entirely  unfit  for  use.  J)iro 
want,  however,  compelled  the  men  to  preserve  those  portions 
that  were  partially  decomjiosed,  liy  washing  and  smoking  them. 


60 


MAJOR  UKSKltAL  JUKDKSKL 


1779. 

In  the  prcccdinji;  cluiptor  it  has  been  seen  that  tliis  year,  also 
eoiniiieiiced  inauspiciously  Inr  tlio  (captured  troops.  The  hist, 
hopo  of  dclivcraiii'o,  which  had  buoyod  thom  up  durin<f  their 
weary  niareli,  had  now  vanished.  The  expectation  of  »,  jtiirtial 
amelioration  in  their  condition,  especially  in  rej^ard  to  shelter 
and  food,  had  come  to  nouj^ht.  In  their  present  <|uarters  every- 
thing was  even  worse  than  it  had  been  at  Winter  hill.  They 
had  now  come,  indeed,  into  a  foreign  land.  They  had  to  become 
acquainted  with  the  customs  and  ways  of  the  inhabitants.  They 
had,  also,  to  become  acclimated.  The  country,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  those  portions  near  the  swamps,  and  some  sections  in  the 
vi  'inity  of  the  coast,  was  generally  healthy.  Hut  the  heat  during 
summer  was  very  great.  The  temperature  changes  (juiekly; 
and  violent  thunder  storms  characterize  the  southern  climate. 
The  troops  found  fewer  populous  cities,  less  cultivated  land  and 
a  smaller  number  of  artificial  roads.  The  rich  planters  had 
divided  among  themselves  the  fertile  soil,  which  they  generally 
allowed  to  lie  untilled.  They  spent  their  lives  in  eft'eminate 
leisure,  while  their  negro  slaves  were  forced  to  raise  tobacco 
ami  maize  under  the  lash  of  a  hard  hearted  overseer  Outside 
of  the  few  cities  there  were  only  masters  and  slaves ;  for  even 
to  this  day  \'irginia  belongs  to  the  slave  states,  and  has  main- 
tained her  prerogatives  in  regard  to  man  selling.  Thus,  Vir- 
ginia, of  all  the  states  in  North  America,  has  kept  her  old  insti- 
tutions the  most  intact.'  The  customs  of  the  grandparents  were 
inherited  by  the  grandsons  without  alteri'tiou.  The  plantations 
of  the  rich  planters  were  the  same  then  as  now,  notwithstanding 
the  present  views  of  freedom.  The  villages  consisted  of  miserable 
huts  inhabited  by  negroes.  The  barns  and  wag(Ui  houses  which 
took  up  considerable  space,  and  the  rich  lamls  and  woods,  reach- 


'ThlH  book  wiiH  written  in  18.50. 


IN  THE  AAlKniCAN  nEVOWTlON. 


67 


ing  as  fur  m  the  eye  could  reach,  belonged  to  only  nnc  lord,  whoso 
sole  care  was  to  aniaws  more  ricfhes  by  the  .sweat  of  his  negroes, 
in  order  to  extend  his  boundaries  yet  farther  —  the  influence 
of  the  planter  being  inea;;ured  by  the  extent  of  his  possessions. 

The  manner  in  which  the  troojjs  lived,  also,  was  now  alto- 
gether different  I'roni  that  to  which  they  had  been  hitherto 
accustomed.  Animal  food  and  maize  were  chiefly  used ;  vege- 
tables were  scarcely  known.  For  drink,  they  had  sour  cider, 
whisky,  and  a  kind  of  sweet  beer,  prepared  from  the  fruit  of 
the  diospyrus.  The  negro,  like  the  cattle,  was  fed  on  maize. 
Whatever  else  the  lord  and  his  family  needed,  was  bought  in 
other  parts  of  the  country  with  his  good  '  money.- 

It  can,  therefore,  be  easily  imagined  that  under  such  circum- 
stances very  little  could  be  hud  for  the  troops,  and  that  little  only 
at  enormous  prices.  The  sad  condition  of  the  men  was  a  source 
of  great  sorrow  to  (Jencruls  JMiillips  ami  Rieduwel ;  and  yet 
nothing  whatever  could  be  done,  but  to  comfort  the  poor  sol- 
diers with  the  prospect  of  a  better  future.  This  was  certainly 
no  easy  matter,  after  their  many  previous  disappointnuMits. 
Still,  the  generals  did  all  in  their  power  to  encourage  them. 
Thus,  'General  Phillips,  before  reaching  the  troops,  issued  the 
two  following  orders : 


"  Order  ok  Gknkrai,  1'iiii,mi'.s.     No.  T. 

"(Jeouoktovvn,  Fclirudiij  12,  1779. 
"(leneral  Phillips  informs  the  troops  that  he  intends  .soon  to 
join  them,  and  that  he  will  make  every  ett'ort  to  render  their 


'  The  BoiiKO  In  which  the  udjtctlvd  "  fjood  '"  In  hrro  iiJcd.  Ib  iidI  qiiilc  clear.     Per- 
hnjiH,  It  Is  luwiiil  (()  (lii'tlli;?iili'h  ;,'i)l(l  ami  HilvcrfrDm  /«(/«/•  oiciiiiliiu'iital  iiuiiicy. 

'•'Tliu  ijrcat  piinKloii  for  extravHj,'aiico  aiuoiif,' the  Virniiiiiui  ladles' at  that  day,  in 
mentioned  by  eonteinporary  wrllerH  as  Ijinng  niosl  exlraorillnary.  ScholVsayM  that 
when  he  traveled  In  Virginia,  in  1~K(),  he  slopped  <ine  day  at  a  planter's  honse  wiiieli 
was  u  most  wretehed  ntlulr.  It  was  a  kind  of  lojj  house  wilhont  {,'lass  windows,  and 
with  everytlUng  else  to  corres|)ond.  But  the  lady  of  the  lidiise,  who  received  Idni, 
was  dressed  In  silk  iind  velvet,  and  wore  a  biinncl  Irininied  with  feathers;  (,'loves, 
plenty  of  ji^welry,  etc.—  Note  to  oriijiital. 
()* 


G8 


MAJOR  GENERAL  RIEDESEL 


m 


sad  stay  as  coinfoitablc  as  possible.  The  ships  with  the  uni- 
forms are  on  their  way ;  and  all  other  articles  conducive  to  the 
comfort  of  the  troops  shall  be  procured  very  soon.  Money  will 
arrive  at  the  same  time  with  the  bafjgage. 

"  CJeneral  IMiillips  desires  nothing  so  much  as  to  be  able  to 
give  the  troops  good  news  in  regard  to  their  speedy  exchange ; 
but  all  the  trouble  that  the  commissioners  have  taken  to  bring 
this  about,  has,  up  to  this  time,  proved  fruitless.  His  excellency, 
General  Clinton,  has  made  several  propositions  to  congress,  but 
they  have  all  been  rejected.  General  Phillips,  also,  has  sub- 
mitted propositions  to  General  Washington,  having  reference 
to  the  same  object,  but  they  likewise  have  been  rejected.  It 
seems  as  if  the  Americans  intended  to  separate  the  officers  from 
the  troops,  but  we  cannot  allow  this  without  forfeiting  our  honor. 
We  must,  therefore,  patiently  bear  our  misfortunes  a  little  longer. 
On  the  arrival  of  General  Phillips,  the  proceedings  i)f  the  com- 
missioi»ers  in  relation  to  the  exchanged  will  be  published  to 
the  troops. 

"  PllTiiLiPS,  Major  General." 

Eight  days  later,  >'he  following  order  was  issuod  : 

"OuDEii  OF  General  Piiii,r,n>s.     No.  IT. 

"  FnEDEnicKsnuRo,  Fihniori/  20,  177!>." 
"  General  Phillips  perceives  with  sadness,  in  the  reports  of 
General  Riedosel  aiul  Colonel  Hill,  the  sorrowful  situation  of 
the  troops,  and  promises  to  relieve  their  miserable  situation  as 
speedily  as  possible.  His  duty  aloiu!  obliges  him  already  to  take 
l)art  with  the  troojjs  under  all  eircunistances ;  but  this  duty  is 
doubled  by  the  extraordinary  good  behavior  of  the  troops 
during  the  severe  march  of  the  past  winter,  and  makes  it  the 
more  binding  upon  him  to  do  everything  possible  for  their 
comfort. 

"  Tile  army  of  brave  Knglish  and  Gernnin  veterans,  who,  with 
so  much  emlurance,  have  withstood  the  difficulties  of  so  long  a 


7.V  TJIE  AldElUCAS  liEYOLVTION. 


09 


march,  and  the  still  f,'reatcr  iniHfortuncH  of  their  present  situa- 
tion, may  bo  assured  that  this  example  of  honor  and  faithfulness 
to  the  kinj,'  will  always  be  remembered  with  praise  and  high 
consideration.  General  Phillips  will  not  fail  to  report  this  con- 
duct of  the  troops  to  General  (^linton,  who  will  announce  their 
meritorious  behavior  to  the  king  himself 

"  PliiiiLii'8,  Major  General." 

* 

The  increasing  scarcity  of  money  was  the  cause  of  paper 
money  being  finally  issued  to  the  troops.  The  paymasters  of 
the  different  reginicnts  accordingly  met  on  the  1st  of  March  at 
Charlottesville,  and  conferred  with  the  Jlnglish  paymaster, 
General  Geddes. 

Warm  weather  came  on  very  early.  The  trees  were  in  blos- 
som by  the  middle  of  February.  General  lliedesel  determined 
that  now,  at  least,  his  family  should  have  plenty  to  eat.  Ac- 
cordingly, having  hired  the  house  of  the  Italian,  and  the  garden 
belonging  to  it,  he  planted  the  latter — and  other  ground  also  — 
with  vegetables.  The  seeds  he  procured  from  various  places.  He 
encouraged  his  men,  also,  to  practice  horticulture,  giving  them 
seeds  for  this  purpose.  Soon  there  was  to  be  seen  a  little  garden 
surrounding  each  barrack  ;  and  here  and  there  a  fenced  inclosurc 
in  which  were  kept  chickens  and  other  fowl.  This  afforded 
amusement  to  the  soldiers,  and  broke  up,  somewhat,  the  mo- 
notony of  their  inactivity.  By  this  means,  also,  they  obtained, 
at  a  comparatively  cheap  rate,  vegetables  of  which  they  had 
hitherto  been  deprived. 

The  dwelling  house  proving  too  small  for  Kiodesol's  family 
and  friends,  he  built  a  log  house,  in  the  centre  of  which  was  a 
kind  of  hall  with  two  rooms  on  either  side.  The  furniture  was 
adapted  to  the  house  ;  fin-  the  chairs  consisted  of  blocks  of  wood 
and  the  tables  of  boards  laid  across  the  chairs.  A  stable  for 
the  horses  and  a  carriage  house  were  also  built  in  the  same 
manner.  Adjoining  the  house  was  a  fenced  garden  in  which 
the  general  loved  to  employ  himself     llesidcs  this,  he  bought 


70 


MAJOR  QENhHiAL  lilEDESEL 


COWS,  pifTs,  chickens  and  other  domestic  animals,  so  that  the 
general  appearance  was  more  like  a  farm  than  the  habitation  of 
a  general.  Having  many  at  his  table,  he  had  an  ox  and  two 
pigs  killed  every  fortnight.  Hesides  his  own  family,  he  had 
daily  at  his  table  Captains  Von  J'ollnitz,  Uerlach,  Willoc  and 
Geisniar,  Lieutenants  Cleve  and  Freeman,'  and  Chaplain  My- 
lius.  Tn  addition  to  these,  he  frequently  invited  other  officers  to 
dinner,  both  (ierman  and  Engli.sh.  (Jeneral  Phillips  was  a  daily 
guest.  The  negroes  occasionally  brought  in  fowls,  fruit,  or  a  few 
vegetables,  and  small  farmers  also  came  with  butter,  eggs,  etc. 
In  this  manner  the  most  necessary  provisi<ins  were  obtained. 

In  .June  of  this  year,  Riedesel  came  very  near  losing  his  life. 
One  day  he  went  out  of  doors  in  the  heat  of  the  sun,  having 
neglected  to  cover  his  head.  A  few  moments  after,  he  iell  to 
the  ground  apparently  lifeless.  Tpon  being  bnuight  to,  he 
stated  thii*  he  was  just  on  the  point  of  returning  into  the 
house,  when  he  fell  senseless.  He  had  been  sun.struck.  This, 
in  most  cases,  proves  fatal;  and  in  the  jtresent  instance,  it  would 
have  proved  fatal,  had  not  sj)eedy  assistance  been  at  hand.  The 
fact,  moreover,  that  it  was  at  hand  was  du(!  to  the  merest  chance. 

This  accident,  togtither  with  the  continued  heat,  greatly 
increa.sed  Uiedesel's  ill  health.  His  nervousness,  tightness  of 
the  chest,  and  sleeplessness  increased  more  aiul  njore.  He 
was  now  always  sad  and  irritable ;  and  it  was  fortunate  I'or 
him  that  he  had  his  carei'ul  wife  as  nurse.  The  physicians 
advised  hiin  to  go  to  Frederick's  spring  in  Virginia.  lie  re- 
ceived permission  from  congress  to  do  so ;  and,  in  company 
with   his  family,  his  adjutant,'-'  Captain  (Jeismar.  Lieutenants 


■Thu  Bftmc  who  drew  the  maps  of  ihu  uctioiix  iil  Kreeman'x  Tarm  uiul  Bcmis'M 
hcightx,  coplcH  of  wliioh  llliii'triiti.'  this  work. 

"The  Eiifillnh  ndjutuiit,  Eilmoiii'loiip,  who  hail  been  so  fiiUhfiil  to  Hledcscl,  had 
loft  a  short  time  previously  for  Ni'W  York  to  ho  cxclmiijiod.  Itlcdesol  gave  him  a 
letter  of  rt'comnu'iidation  to  the  adjutant  of  Wai'liiiij;toii,  Colonel  Henry,  with  whom 
he  was  well  ae<|iminted,  and  whom  he  requested,  In  the  letter,  to  assist  the  Kngllsh 
olllcer  on  his  journey  as  soon  as  possible.  Hefore  the  outbreak  of  the  North  Ame- 
rican war.  Kihnonstono  had  been  a  mem))er  of  the  Collegium  Carolinum  at  Bruns- 
wick.—  Xnte  to  or/r/inal. 


/A   77/ a;  AMKIIIOAN  liKVOlUTIoy. 


71 


Freeman  and  Clove  and  a  few  servants  he  started  for  that  plar-o, 
taking  with  liini  as  his  medical  attendant,  the  regimental  d(iet«)r, 
Uause. 

At  this  both  Riedescl  and  his  wife  formed  some  pleasant 
acciuaintances,  and  among  others,  that  of  Washington's  family. 
It  is  a  pity  that  Mrs.  Itiedesel,  in  her  interesting  book,  does 
not  say  anything  concerning  the  latter.  She  mentions  some 
of  their  cousins  whose  acquaintance  she  also  made ;  and  it 
may  therefore,  naturally  be  presumed  that  this  acquaintance 
did  not  extend  beyond  the  limits  of  the  common  forms  of 
p(diteness. 

It  was  fortunate  that  Madame  Riedesel  did  not  lose  courage 
under  all  the.sc  difficulties.  She  was  thus  enabled  to  alleviate 
the  sufferings  of  her  husband,  besides,  gaining  many  friends. 
Captain  (Jeismar  would  occasiomilly  accompany  her  with  the 
violin.  At  such  times  she  would  sing  a  merry  song,  to  the 
great  delight  of  her  hu.sband  who  was  very  fond  of  music. 

While  at  Frederick's  spring,  Hiedesel  received  the  joyful 
intelligence  that  both  he  and  IMiillips  had  received  permission 
to  go  to  New  York  with  their  adjutants.  Some  time  previously 
the  two  g.  nerals  had  asked  for  this  permission,  believing  that 
their  prospects  for  an  exchange  would  be  much  better  in  New 
York  than  in  Virginia.  IJiedesel,  accordingly,  returned  to  ('olle 
on  the  5th  of  September,  to  arrange  matters  with  his  troops 
and  at  his  house,  before  his  departure.  He  wished,  also,  to 
sell  liis  furniture.  The  house  which  he  had  put  up,  but  which 
had  not,  as  yet  been  occupied,  cost  him  one  hundred  guineas. 
Mrs.  Riedesel  remained  for  a  short  time  longer  at  Frederick's 
spring,  it  having  been  agreed  between  herself  and  husband  to 
meet  each  other  at  Vorktown,  in  Pennsylvania.' 


'  Duke  BomhnnI,  of  Wciiimr,  wUd  Iriivi'lid  lliroii!,'li  the  North  Aiiu'ricuii  ftuler*, 
visifed  the  xpot  whcrt'  thlK  block  house  of  Kii-deHt'l  hud  formerly  ctood.  It  wbh  an 
UMCiiltivnted  hill  upon  whicli  ntood  noiiie  piiien  which  Itiedesel  hnd  plnnted.  The 
dnke  took  i»  ti-w  lwi;jK  to  the  son  of  the  general,  as  ii  ineiiieiito  of  his  fiither's  eiip- 
tivity. 


72 


MAJOn  OENEIlAl  RlBOKSEh 


IJeforc  jj;oin}^  to  Frederick's  Hpriiig,  Uiedescl  had  made  speciiil 
cffortH  to  arrange  some  matters  in  which  ho  was  very  much 
interested.  (Vtnjiress  was  continually  endeavoring  to  separate 
the  officers  as  much  as  possihlc  from  their  troops,  and  the 
former  had  accordingly  been  (juartered  at  ilichmond.  Congress, 
by  this  conduct,  could  have  had  no  other  motive,  but  to  deprive 
the  captured  soldiers  of  the  supervision,  and  thus  facilitiite  and 
encourage  desertion.  Riedesel  was,  therefore,  anxious  to  have 
these  orders  of  congress  partially,  if  not  entirely  revoked.  His 
remonstrances,  however,  were  of  no  avail.  Congress  not  only 
paid  no  heed  to  his  supplications,  but  sent  the  IJrunswick 
officers  from  Riclunond,  still  further  into  the  country,  lliedesel 
then  appealed  to  (leneral  Ilarvy,  at  that  time  commanding  at 
Kichmond,  and  by  whose  orders  the  officers  were  to  leave  the 
city.  General  Harvy  returned  a  very  civil  reply  to  the  effect 
that  as  there  was  ctinsiderable  ammunition  in  Richmond,  any 
one  evilly  disposed,  especially  a  servant,  might  do  a  great  deal 
of  damage,  liut  the  main  reason  which  he  gave  for  his  course, 
was,  that  the  populace  of  Richmond  were  very  much  prejudiced 
against  the  officers,  and  that  evil  consecjuenccs  might  be  the 
result  if  they  remained  in  the  city. 

Meanwhile,  the  baggage  fntni  Canada  arrived  at  Richmond. 
It  was  intended  to  have  sent  this  at  once  over  to  the  officers' 
camp.  The  hitter's  sudden  departure,  however,  prevented  its 
immediate  delivery.  On  the  7th  of  June,  Riedesel  wrote  to 
IMiillips  re(jue.sting  permissson  to  send  a  few  officers  to  Rich- 
mond, to  take  care  of  the  baggage.  In  this  letter,  the  necessity 
for  such  a  course,  in  view  of  the  soldiers  having  no  clothing 
and  the  officers  not  being  in  a  much  better  coiulition,  was 
strongly  presented.  In  reply,  General  I'hillips  granted  per- 
mission for  one  officer  from  each  regiment,  and  a  sufficient 
number  of  noncommissioned  officers,  to  proceed  to  Richmond 
for  that  purpose.  The  officers  ordered  upon  this  service  were 
Captain  Gerlach,  five  quarter  masters  and  one  dragoon  from 
the  Rrunswickers,  and  one  officer  and  one  noncommissioned 


f^ 


IN  THE  AMEliWAN  JiEVOLUTlOX. 


78 


officer  of  tlio  artillery  from  the  Hesse  TIaiiau  diviHion.  Upon 
tlunr  arrival  at  Ui(!huioiid  the  bafrf^a^e  waH  f^iveii  iiji,  but  they 
theniHelves  were  awfully  clieated  by  the  inhabitants,  several  of 
the  iioncoiiiniissioMed  officers  haviu;^  to  pay  two  thalers  for  a 
miserable  bed  and  poor  board.  In  his  report,  Riedesel  com- 
plained of  this  treatment  to  Phillips,  and  recjuestcd  him  to  ask 
the  United  States  government  to  ulhtw  u  certain  amount  for 
the  board  of  these  officers,  who  had  been  detached  for  this 
service,  as  liad  been  customary  while  they  were  in  New  England. 
IJut  besides  all  these  vexations,  the  long  expected  baggage  was 
itself  in  a  bad  condition  ;  a  large  portion  of  it  being  either 
missing  or  spoiled.  The  infantry  and  artillery  regiments  (»f 
Ilessc  Ilanau  were  in  a  bad  predicament.  The  new  clothing 
for  the  troops  had  been  sent  from  llanau  almost  two  years 
before,  and  had  not  yet  arrived.  The  men  were,  therefore,  all 
in  rags.  And  t(»  put  the  finishing  blow  to  their  hopes,  when 
the  baggage  finally  arrived  from  Canada,  it  was  found  that 
but  a  small  portion  of  the  clothing  had  come,  that  which  had 
arrived  being  so  damaged  as  not  to  be  tit  t<t  use.  There  were 
in  this  country  very  few  hotels  and  taverns ;  and,  tho.se  travelers 
who  were  so  unfortunate  as  t4)  be  caught  over  night  in  the 
country,  were  obliged  to  throw  themselves  upon  the  hospitality 
of  a  planter  or  a  white  settler,  either  of  whom  generally  charged 
exorbitantly. 

Upou  Kiedesel's  departure  from  Frederick's  spring,  from 
which,  by  the  way,  he  received  no  benefit  (the  warm  baths  only 
exciting  his  nervous  system  to  the  great  detriment  of  hi.s  health 
by  depriving  him  of  sleep),  he  gave  his  command  during  his 
absence  to  brigadier  General  Specht.  At  the  same  time  he 
dispatched  his  adjutant,  (Jlcve,  to  Phillips,  to  arrange  .several 
matters  relating  tt)  the  exchange.  This  latter  mission  was 
performed  as  secretly  an  possible,  as  no  reliance  could  be  placed 
on  the  American  commissioner,  Willichen,  who  was  with  the 
troops,  and  who,  being  of  a  malignant  and  deceitful  character, 
might  postpone  the  whole  aftiiir.     After  arranging  his  affiiirs 


74 


MA  JO  II  (lESEHAL  niF DEUEL 


in  (V)Ilo,  luid  doing  ovorytliin};  in  his  power  for  tho  comfort  (»f 
his  men  at  Chiirlottesville,  Kiedesel  started  on  iiis  journey 
with  the  intention  of  meeting  his  wife  at  Yorktown.  On  his 
reacliing  there  a  few  days  afterwards  with  (iencral  Phillips, 
whom  he  had  met  on  the  way,  lie  found  that  his  wife  had 
arrived  a  few  days  before  him.  After  eneountcring  many 
dangers,  that  brave  woman  with  her  chiklren  had  reached  the 
jdaee  a  few  days  earlier  and  liad  thus  had  an  opportunity  of 
enjoying  a  little  rest  which  she  at  that  time  very  much  needed, 
for  she  was  sick  and  weary,  and  expected  shortly  again  to 
become  a  mother. 

From  Vorktown,  the  travelers  pursued  tlieir  journey  through 
beautifully  cultivated  regions,  and  arrived  safely  at  Elizabeth- 
town  opposite  Staten  island.  They  were  joyful  and  in  high 
spirits  at  the  near  prospect  of  a  termination  of  their  journey. 
Little  did  any  one  expect  that  in  a  few  moments  their  long 
cherished  hoj)es  were  to  be  daslu^l  to  the  ground  I  The  party 
were  just  eating  supper,  after  which  they  intended  to  end)ark 
for  New  York,  when  tlie  door  opened,  and  without  ceremony  a 
commissioner  from  Washington  made  his  appearance,  and,  in  a 
very  pompous  manner,  handed  a  large  document  to  (icneral 
I'hillips.  The  latter  could  scarcely  believe  his  eyes  when  lie 
read  in  it  a  revocation  of  congress,  of  the  permission  to  proceed 
to  New  York  and  be  exchanged.  Phillips,  who  was  naturally 
very  excitable,  jumped  up  from  his  chair  in  a  towering  passion, 
and,  striking  the  table  with  liis  fist,  exclaimed  in  English, 
"  Very  good  I  This  might  have  been  expected  of  men  who  are 
all  rascals  !  "  These  words  having  been  uttered  in  the  presence 
of  the  connuissioner,  Mrs.  Uiedesel  was  not  a  little  alarmed  at 
this  inconsiderate  act.  Which,  being  noticed  by  Phillips  he 
was  self-possessed  in  a  moment;  and,  taking  hold  of  the  hand 
of  the  alarmed  lady,  said,  "  Well,  my  friend,  be  not  discouraged ; 
follow  my  example;  look,  I  am  collected."  "Each  one," 
replied  Mrs.  Uiedesel,  "  shows  his  grief  in  his  own  manner.  I 
keep  mine  in  my  bosom,  and  you  give  vent  to  yours  in  passion  ; 


IN  TIIK  AMERICAS  REVOLUTION. 


75 


but  1  think  you  wnultl  do  better  not  to  hIiow  these  people  your 
niif^er,  for  they  only  scoff  at  it,  and  it  eiin  oidy  cauHe  you  more 
trouble."  In  return,  the  general  admitted  that  the  prudent, 
German  woman  wax  right.  He  thanked  her,  and  assured  her 
that  henceforth  he  would  bear  his  grief  patitiutly.  This  con- 
versation had  been  carried  on  in  Kreneh,  Fortunately,  the 
American  took  no  notice  of  it,  merely  smiling  scornfully  at  the 
demonstration  of  the  excited  general,  and  going  i|uietly  back 
whence  lu)  had  come. 

The  travelers  were  accordingly  obliged  to  return  to  Heth- 
lehem  through  which  they  had  already  pa.ssed  twice.  Here 
they  put  up  at  a  good  hotel,  with  the  intention  of  remaining 
until  permission  for  them  to  continue  their  journey  should 
arrive. 

IJcthlehem,  situated  on  the  beautiful  Leiheigh,  in  a  delightful 
region,  presented  a  very  friendly  and  neat  appearance.  (Cleanli- 
ness was  apparent  both  within  the  houses  and  on  the  streets. 
The  village,  and  also  the  adjoining  one,  called  Nazareth,  had 
been  begun  about  f(»rty  years  previously.  It  numbered  at  this 
period  nearly  sixty  houses,  and  had  some  six  hundred  inhabit- 
ants. There  was  here,  as  there  was  in  every  other  village  of 
the  Mernhuters,  a  largo  convent  of  brothers  and  sisters.  Mrs. 
Riedesel  went  every  Sunday  to  the  beautiful  church.  In  her 
book  she  makes  special  mention  of  the  fine  singing  of  the  con- 
gregation. 

The  two  generals,  Riedesel's  family,  adjutants  and  servants, 
formed  a  caravan  altogetlicr  of  twenty  persons,  and  twenty 
horses.  They  all  put  up  at  the  same  h(jtel,  the  host  of 
which  was  also  a  Ilernhiiter.  This  man  had  been  so 
friendly  and  obliging  on  the  two  previous  occasions  of 
Riedesel's  family  stopping  with  him,  and  his  bill  had  been  so 
reasonable,  that  no  bargain  was  made  as  to  his  price  for  the 
present  party. 

It  was  at  this  place,  that  Riedesel,  who  had  hitherto  been  u 
lU* 


76 


MAJOR  OKX/'.'llAL  RIKVESKL 


1  '  \ 

m 


ii|| 


great  smoker,  cxcliaiif^od  the  pipe  for  the  snuff-box.  He  had 
always  had  a  great  antipathy  against  this  latter  habit,  but  ho 
suftered  so  constantly  from  severe  headaehes,  that  his  wife 
indueedhini  to  take  Huufl'as  a  remedy.  As  this  always  relieved 
him,  he  snoii  became  aeeustomed  to  it. 

The  obliging  (ieneral  Hland  ordered  (^aptain  Handolph  to 
accompany  the  two  generals.  He  was  an  obliging  and  amiable 
man ;  and  did  everything  to  make  the  captives'  Journey  as 
pleasant  as  possible.  When  he  bade  adieu  to  the  generals  at 
Bethlehem,  they  warmly  thanked  him  for  his  attentiims.  Hicd- 
csel  gave  him  a  letter,  dated  October  12th,  to  General  Wash- 
ington, to  whose  head  ((uarters  Handnlpb  first  went.  In  this 
letter  tiie  writer  prais(>s  his  conduct,  and  thanks  Washington 
again  for  his  kindness.  The  two  generals,  also,  took  this  oppor- 
tunity to  aj)j)eal  onc(!  more  to  Washington,  in  relation  to  the 
interruption  of  their  journey.  The  latter  answered  these 
letters  very  soon  and  with  great  courtesy  ;  but  as  usual  he 
declined  using  his  influence  and  advised  the  writers  to  appeal 
directly  to  congress. 

Hut  the  two  generals  had,  nevertheless,  to  thank  Washington 
for  obtaining  permission  to  go  to  New  York,  with  their  adju- 
tants, the  latter  part  of  November.  And,  although  the  general 
exchange  had  again  been  postponed,  they  considered  it  a  great 
blessing  to  go  thither,  as  Madame  Kiedesel  wished  to  be  there 
during  her  confinement,  and  her  husband  expected  to  derive 
some  benefit  from  the  physicians  and  the  favorable  climate  of 
that  city. 

The  travelers,  however,  on  their  departure,  were  no  little 
astonished  at  seeing  the  bill  of  their  conscientiims  and  kind 
appearing  host.  Tt  amounted  to  more  than  four  hundred 
guineas.  The  pious  man  could  not  hiV/r  his  »uii/.  Behind  the 
mask  of  piety,  he  concealed  an  avaricious  spirit.  The  party, 
moreover,  would  have  had  considerable  difficulty  in  meeting 
the  bill  had  not  a  firm  royalist  chanced  to  arrive  at  the  tavern, 
desiring  to  exchange  good  money  for   paper.      Perhaps,  the 


/.V  rilK  AMKIilVAS  HKVOLVrtOS. 


77 


pioiiH  hoHt  woul(]  havo  tiikuii  thu  sliiiiiii;;  ^uinuim  iit  par  tor  liix 
bill!  I 

Fnini  Hotlilehoiii,  llioilcHel,  with  JMiillipH,  triivolod  in  tulvunco 
ot'hi.s  fimiily  to  Now  York,  in  order  to  enj^aj^o  wuitaldo  ((iiarterH 
for  tlioni.  lit*  wont  to  Klizahotlitown,  and  tlionoo  by  bout  to 
Now  York.  Ili.s  wife  took  tlio  samo  nmto,  and  arrived  in  Now 
Y(»rk  late  in  the  evening.  At  tlio  f^ate,  sbe  wan  met  l»y  a 
(lornian  Holdior  wlio  had  boon  Hent  by  her  hnnband  to  moot  and 
aoeompany  her  to  her  future  (|uarterH.  Tiie  Holdior  lod  lior  to 
a  beautiful  mansion,  wIkto  hIio  was  .shown  to  a  room  in  which 
everythinjx  was  prepared  for  her  reception,  oven  to  a  .supper  for 
herHolf  and  children.  Her  husband  had  been  unable  to  moot 
her  on  account  of  having;  been  invited  that  cvenin<,'  to  the 
house  of  (lenoral  Cornwallis,  whence  he  returned  very  late. 
The  house  to  which  Mrs.  Uiodesel  had  been  conducted,  was  the 
residence  of  General  Tryon.  He  had  placed  everything  at  her 
command  ;  and  in  order  not  to  embarrass  his  guest,  ho  had  gone 
to  Long  island  whore  he  had  a  connnand. 

Shortly  after  his  arrival  in  the  city,  Kiodosol  received  the 
f(dlowing  delightful  letter  from  the  hereditary  prince  of  Iiruns< 
wick  : 

"  Right  Honorable  Sir :  T  had  tlic  pleasure  of  receiving,  on 
the  10th  instant,  your  welcome  letter  of  the  lid  of  April,  for 
which  I  heartily  thank  you.  Be  assured  that  I  deeply  sympa- 
thize with  you  in  all  that  has  happened  to  you  during  this  un- 
successful American  expedition  ;  also,  that  \  grievously  hunont 
the  fate  of  our  brave  (Jermans,  who  havo  merited  so  glorious 
u  testimony  from  tiioir  worthy  chief.  Hut  rest  assured  that  [ 
do  perfect  jastice  to  your  conduct,  your  j)rudoiico  and  the 
exemplary  diligence  you  have  shown  in  caring  for  the  comfort 
of  the  corps  entrusted  to  your  care,  and  believe  me  when  1  say 
that  I  fully  appreciate   the  credit  you  havo  merited  by  your 


>  Owing  to  the  vnul  amount  of  piipcr  money  at  that  time  afloat,  a  liandHonio  pre- 
mium wau  paid  for  coin.—  Note  to  orUjlnal. 


1% 


M.Uun  OKSKIIM  ItlKDKsKL 


activo  iiikI  uiim-lfiHli  fxiTtiniiH  lor  tlio  |)ri'HorvHtiiiii  (if  tlui  citjih 
in  itH  proHont  8ud  Hitiiatidii.  I  sinill  \w  iilt'iiHctl  to  imo  every 
opportunity  in  which  to  nianitt'st  thin  Huntiniont  in  your  hohiilf, 
ami  sliail  be  e.speciully  ^Tatilii'd  if  I  can  Ijo  of  any  msrvioi!  to  tho 
corpH  under  your  coniniand. 

"  I  wi.-ih  you  all  HucecsH,  at  tho  wiuie  timo  lutHuriug  yuu  of  uiy 
ontiro  cHtoeni,  and  am   ■ 
"  Vour  t!X('elleney's 

■•  MoHt  obedient  servant, 
"dllAKI.KS  W.   v., 

"  I'riiicc  of  HrunHwiek  and  Liinehor^. 
"  Shiincwaldo,  Juno  11,  177H. 

"  I*.  S.  Wo  aro  hero  on  tiie  Hohomian  lino  with  tho  object 
of  Hottling  a  diffieuity  between  tho  king  and  tho  eniporor.  Wo 
havo  Huxuns  tiud  linssians  for  auxiliaries,  while  Franco  givoM 
aid  to  Austria.  This  is  tho  most  imiiortant  news  from  these 
parts. 

"  Adiou  :  do  not  forget  us. 

"  Cn.  W.  Fu."  ' 


Now  York,  which  now  numluas  half  a  million  of  inhabitantH, 
had  thou  scarcely  twenty  tliou.sand,  and  of  course  presented 
quite  u  dift'oront  appearance  from  what  it  does  at  tho  present 
time.  The  place  was  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the  lOnglish, 
ami  both  parties  lought  severely  for  its  ]>o.sse.><sion.  Hero  a  largo 
number  of  royalists  had  taken  refuge  from  those  parts  where 
the  contest  raged  severest,  and  where  their  party  were  in  tho 
nnnority.  This,  however,  while  it  made  the  stay  of  Hiedosel  and 
his  family  more  jileasant,  made  tho  necessaries  of  life  much 
dearer.  Thus,  for  example,  a  turkey  cost,  in  (lorman  money, 
four  thalers;   a  chicken,    twenty    groschon;    six    unions,   one 


'  Tills  letter,  which,  an  will  be  seen,  wflu  dated  .Iniie  the  11th,  ITTS,  dirt  not  reach 
liiudc^cl  until  N()veml>cr-Mth,  1T71I ;  uIiuuhI  a  year  and  a  liairal'lvr  it  wan  written. — 
iVWe  to  original. 


/.v  Tin:  AMh:iiH'.\s  itKVni.rriDS. 


70 


thiilur;  (tno  <|uiirt  ot' milk,  nix  gnwlicn ;  mul  ttvorytliinj,' olwu 
in  |)rii|)iirtiiiii. 

Till!  Miiiiill-p(»x  wiiM  at  (liin  tiiiic  vi-ry  jircvnlont  in  thn  city, 
and  (joncraiClintiin,  tiitit  MrH.  lliodi'Hoi  au«l  licr  rhildrcn  nii^rht 
huvo  an  opportunity  cd'  liavinj;  tlu-nisclvoH  vacfinatt^tl,  oH'iTt'd 
tiioni  his  villa,  an  otter  vvliioli  was  very  tlianklully  acwptcd. 
This  villa  was  distant  an  hour's  walk  Irnni  the  city,  and  was 
furnished  very  conilortahly.  Ihiriii^;  this  month  Mrs.  Uiedcsel 
hud  thu  ploasuru  of  making  the  aei|uaintaneu  of  the  amialile 
(leneral  'I'ryon.  who  ]iad  shown  her  so  much  consideration  in 
Hurrenihn'in^  up  his  house,  and  who  had  now  rt^turned  IVoni 
Jiong  island.  She  describes  him  as  a  very  friendly  and  modest 
mun,  and  gifted  with  the  best  of  manners. 

Upon  the  return  of  Hiedesel  and  his  family  from  Clinton's  villa 
to  New  York,  they  found  the  bouse  that  was  intended  for  them 
ready  for  occupation.  It  was  furnished  witli  everything  that 
Knglish  elegance  and  comfort  could  devise.  The  furniture  was 
of  mahogany,  and  the  floors  and  stairs  were  covered  with  car- 
pets.' Upon  Mrs.  Iliedesel's  expressing  surprise  at  all  this 
outlay,  she  was  informed  that  it  had  been  done  by  the  orders 
of  the  governor.  The  wealthy  and  respe  "table  Knglish  families 
vied  with  each  other  in  making  the  stay  of  the  Kiedesels  as 
agreeable  as  possible.  Particularly  obliging  was  a  certain  Major 
Urown,  who  was  in  the  eominis.sary  department,  and  wh(»  always 
considered  it  a  privilege  to  attend  per-sonally  to  the  necessities 
of  the  family.  During  this  winter,  which  was  terribly  severe, 
there  wua  a  great  want  of  fire-wood  in  the  city ;  .so  much  so, 
indeed,  that  at  times  no  fuel  could  be  had  even  for  tlii^  highest 
price.  Hut  .Major  Urown  had  trees  cut  down  outsiiK^  of  the  city, 
and  sent  the  wood  to  the  Uiede.sels.     Wy  this  timely  kindness, 


'  Till!  niiMitiou  of  this  fuel  will  luit  bo  coiiKUlertul  Hini^iiliir  by  those  who  ure  ac- 
qiiniiitud  with  Koclnl  llfo  In  (Icrmaiiy.  As  n  gciirriil  riilcii  carpc^t  Is  rarely  hwh, 
cv«n  111  tho  niaiisiiiiis  of  tho  wwilthy.  Very  roceiilly,  howovor,  liiiiovatloiiK  In  IhU 
r  'Hpect  have  bu;{im  to  creep  In,  very  much  to  the  iIlH;;ii«t  of  tho  conservative  tier- 
iiiau. 


80 


MA  J  on  OENlUiAL  lUEDKSKL 


tlio  wiiitof,  iiotwitlistiiiulin}^  other  disagrcjiiblc  cireuuistancos, 
was  i)aHsctl  in  comparative  eonifort. 

Tliere  is  still  in  existence  a  list  ol"  the  lirunswiek  troops  aw 
they  stood  at  the  close  of  the  pres.int  year.  It  is  indorsed, 
"  Memoranda  for  (icneral  ]'liillips.  given  to  him,  in  a  confi- 
dential coinnuiuication  by  (Jeneral  llicdcsel,  on  the  11th  of 
December,  177'I" 

"  According  to  tiie  'ast  reports  from  Canada,  the  Brunswick 
troops,  wliich  were  left  there,  besides  those  who  have  hitely 
arrived,  consist  of: 


(Icncriirs  start', 

Hc^r'nii,.nt  of  Pragoons 

Battalion  ot'OrciuidicrH 

Hi'^iincnt  I'rii.cc  rrcdcrick. 

HcjjiiiK'nt  Von  Ulictz 

Rcghuent  Von  Hicdcscl,. . . 

Hcjjimt'nt  Von  Spcdit 

Battalion  Barncr 


Total, 


1 
3 
!J 
20 
(( 

(t 


4 
18 
«2 
14 
10 
14 
19 


3 
13 
3 
2 
2 
1 


54   144     25     1300 


I 


E 

0. 


1 

r>3 
103 
3(K) 
108 
151 
154 
170 


't 


.1 

4 

30 

7 
0 
0 

7 


I 


7 

04 
130 
042 
198 
174 
181 
209 


70  1005 


[t  should  here  bo  mentioned,  that  liicutenant  Dove,'  on  his 
journey  to  Canada,  met,  while  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  two  ships, 
having  on  board  580  Hrunswick  Iroops  destined  for  Canada. 

The  number,  therefore,  iiu'lnding  those  mentioned  above, 
would,  perhaps,  be  as  follows  :  54  officer-s,  1-14  noncommis- 
sioned officers,  25  drummers,  1,880  privates,  70  servants  and 
2.185  men. 


'  Tliix  lii'iili'iimil,  art  \um  boon  alruady  muiitluiied,  wus  Bout  to  Cauada  to  obtain 

the  biiKKaj,'^. 


7.V  THE  AMEBIC  AN  REVOLI'TIOS. 


81 


Iji»l  of  lirunnirlck  froopH  in  Cinniihi,  nj'tir  thr  cj'rhaniji'.,  In- 
rluiihiif  thoHf  oj/irirs  iiiii/  (ifliirx  J'lirnn r/t/  itlintiilutj  to  t/ir 
captnrrd  troops,  hi/  ir/iir/t  fhv  nytmnitx  in  t/iiif  jirnrinrr  iniw 
rcviifiimil. 


(Jcncriirrt  stiift", 
Itr^riiiii'iit  of  I)ru>riM)nH, 
BtittarKMi  of  WrcniulicrH,    . 
HfjriiiK'Ht  of  I'rinro  Frederick, 
Hcfriiiii  ;;t  Von  Uliet/, 
Hejfiineiit  V'on  liiedeHel, 
He^inieiit  Von  Speelit, 
Bultalioii  IJanier, 


Mm. 
81 
282 
321 
643 
302 
21)2 
800 
304 


Total, 


2.514 


Accordiiif^  to  tlie  agreement  inudo  in  rejiard  to  the  exelianj^o, 
there  were  exehanj^ed  of  tht^  Hrunswiek  troops,  ()7  nlHeers. 
14U  servants  and  113  ii()nconiniis.si(ined  otHeerM ;  in  all  ii2!l 
uicn.' 

Two  nonconiniissiotied  offiecrs  only,  remained  with  eaeh 
comjiany.  Consequently,  the  immhcr  of  trooj)s  that  reniiiined 
at  Charlottesville,  consLited  of  1  lieutenant  eolonel,  1  eaiitaiiiH, 
17  offieers,  1  chaplain,  1  physician,  4  assistant  physicians,  1 
auditor,  14  noncommissioned  officers.  2()  drummens,  78S  j)rivates 
am'  'I'.)  t^  rvants ;  total.  !IOt>  nu^n.  Ac<'ordin;:ly  the  iiundier  of 
IJrJiisw'ck  troops  at  thi^  close  of  the  year  177!'  was  as  follows  : 
*?,.'  '4  r.ien  in  Canada;  'i\'l\)  destined  for  e.\ehanj:e  ;  !M1(I  men 
(prisoners)  to  riimain  in  the  harraeks  ;  !5,74'J  men  in  all. 


'  It  Kceins  Htmnj;«  tlmt  llicrj  wen',  luroriliii);  to  llir  iuiiiiIht  of  oftlccrH  m)  miiii) 
ForvniitH  oxclmin.'i'{I,  TIiIh  was  prolmtilv  iloiir  with  a  vii'W  of  l>icllltaliiitf  llioox- 
(•liaii!;<M)f  the  (diiiiiuih  colilii'rs,  ilicrr  hciiic  an  aLrri'i'inoiil  iIihI  llic  xrrvniili*  uf 
ollUiTH  i-lioiild  lie  i'xcliaiii,'<(l  witli  llirir  ii»ih|c|!'.  Tlirii'  worr  Iwi'lvc  ^rrvaiilH  to  h. 
pc'imnil,  live  to  a  lirlnaiHiT,  tlirn'  to  a  ('M|itaiti  ami  two  to  every  our  of  llie  other 
oHU-erx.  Only  twetily  thri'c'  remained  with  tlie  tweiilyllve  ollleeis  who  were  not 
oxrluuijjeil ;  and  yet  tlieir  nervices  were  mirely  iif  more  nee  to  llie  hitler  tiiaii  the 
formur.—  Note  to  oriijiutil. 


82 


MA.lnH  OKSKUM.  lilKIUCSKL 


(JciuTJil    Hicdt'si'l   w.is  fsjK'iMiiIly  aiixinus   tlisil    the   luii'i'   in 
raiiad;!  ,'<liiuil(l   In-  incrciisod,  anil   liis  own  corjis  rct'urniiMl  lln-n' 


as  soon  as  |iiissi 


il.K 


Hut    ifixiil    nonciiniinissidncd   (illiccrs  wci'f 


]iaiii('nlailv  waiilcd,  and  he  was,  tlifn-lori",  cxt'i'odin^lv  dt'sinms 
dl' otrcotini;  tlicir  cxcliangc. 

'riii>  llossc    llanau  troops  in  Canada  consistt'd  of  llic  lollow- 
iiiji' :      Ht'uinii'iit    of   iiil'antn',    •    ofliccrs,    II    nonniiiiniissiuni'd 


oinctTs, 


(ii'iininicrs. 


\'1\  luivatos;  total.  1H.  IJc^inunl  ol' 
ailillcry.'i  nonconnnission(<d  otVicors,  (I  ]irivat<'s,  I  servant  ;  total. 
1*.  In  all.  I  ortii'crs,  |(i  noncoinniissioiuMl  olliccrs.  2  ilruniniors, 
1.10  |>rivati's,  1  servant  ;  total.  I 'ill  men. 

1(!  ortieers  and  1(1  servants  (5(!  men),  wi're  to  lie  exelian;;ed. 
In  the  lianaeks  tli-re  were  to  remain  I  cajitain.  (!  oiJieers,  1 
!i.'<sistanl  doetor.  II  nonenniniissioned  ollieers.  I.'l  drummers  aini 
•j:il  privates;   tot.il.  'J'.M;  men. 

'I'lie  lollowiiii:   is  tlie  eomipli'le   list  :    \W,\  men   who  remained 


in   Canad.'i  ;   Titi   destined   ti 


■haniii' 


•(!  still    prisoners  of 


it  inelmle   the  reerni(s  who 


ha.l 


in  the 


war  ;   total.  ."tO.")  men. 

This,  however,  doe 
meantime  lu>en  sent  into  famnl.-i. 

(Ireat  as  was  the  desire  of  (ieneral  |{ied«'sel  to  lie  exehaiiired 
that  he  miuht  assunn^  tht>  command  of  the  (ierman  troops  In 
Caniida.   he    was  sadly   disappointed   at    the   end   of   the    year. 


Neither  I 


le  nor 


iilliiis  were  so 


fortunate  as  to  he  included  in 


the  partial  exehaiiire  whiiHi  took  place.  Thus  tin'  year  vanished, 
and  with  it  his  liuiy  cherished  hope.  A  j^loomy  future  was 
boforo  hitn. 


/.V  Till':  .\MKIII(!AS  lih.V<H.\'rii)S. 


1 7H(). 


AltlllMl^ll    (il'IM'I'.'ll    Kil'lll'Hcl    lillllll'I'd     llllllt'l'  SCVITI'    IIM'lllllI    1111(1 

jili^sical  (l('|iiCHHiiin,  nniHcd  in  pint  hy  liin  j^rc^iit  (liwi|)|Miiiitriiciit. 
rt'spoctiii},'    Ills  cxclian;:*',    lit-    wmild    not   .illiiw    liiiiiHcU'   tn    Im 


d 


(llhC(ilir!l"('( 


il.      Oiill 


i(^  <'(iiitriirv.  lit'  Will 


rkr.l 


aHSKlilniis 


ly  t'l  )• 


.'iliiiii(  M  MHii't'  I'MMMaldr  turn  in  liis  own  atrairH  and  tliat  of  liis 
men.  Ill'  liad  alrrady  niad<-  tlic  |M'r,siinal  ai'ipiaiiitancc  id' 
'vcral    intlncntial    mm   nl'  flic  nppiiHitr    party,  willi    wlmni    lu- 


st 


'pi    lip  a  ciin'i'siiiindi'iM'i' 


Til 


Uiifrii-an    ciiniiMiMsiiinrr    in 


<'lii(>r.   Clint 


nil, 


lniniiraliii 


iiiiil    iiiiru 


:lil, 


man.  cstrriiici 


I   hin 


vi-ry  liiiiliiy  ;  and  tliii.H  li.'  cuiild  .sal'cly  (•(uiiil  iipmi  a  liiial  I'avor- 
ald»!  result  id'  lii.s  variiiiis  ('.xcrliiinM.  Hcsidrs  al!  this,  lie  was 
sustained  l>y  the  riinsciuusncss  <d'  lahoriiiif  in  ii  just  faiiso. 
.\i(twitli.slandiiiu  liis  lirry  ti'iiipcr.  aii^niicntt'd  liy  his  ill  licallli. 
lir  was  can'riil  ni'\ rr  tu  nvrrstcp  tlic  liuunds  id'  priidrncr.  and 
ncvrr  all'pwcd  liiinsi'li'  In  lir  carrird  away  liy  t'Xi'itcniriil.  lie 
p(iHH('SS(ul,  alsii.  tiHi  iniii'li  .-iH'i-niitripl  ai,d  Iud  nnndi  jiid^^nicnl, 
nut  III  pcrcfivi;  that  l>y  ^iviii;;  way  In  passimi.  nmrr  wmild  Imi 
lust  than  <;aiii('fl.  His  friend.  (leiuMal  IMi'lliiis.  in  this  resjicjct, 
was  a  f^iiiid  <'\aniple  I'nr  him;  '  indeed  the  eniisiderate  hehavior 
ai'.i!  line  lael  of  the  I  iermaii  i^elieral  was  id'  vast  lieiietil  tJi  th(! 
fiirincr.  liesides  this,  he  was  tun  prmid  to  I'nr^et  himself  in 
the  preseiici' tif  the  nverlieariiiL:  \  meri.'ans  ;  fur  aUliiin;^h  he 
respected  a  I'cw  nf  tin-  latter  he  rnnsiilcrcd  their  cnndint  as  a 
wicked  rcludliiin  agaiii.'<t  their  rightful  kiii^  and  Inrd.  and  hated 
the  iiilri;.'-iics  and  (h-spii-alilc  actinii  nf  ciinj;;ress  and  the  miliUiry 


ail 


thiirit 


ies  ai^aiiisl   the    rnya 


1  truiips  ami  tnries.  lie  was  fully 
aware  that  the  cup  nf  suHerin;;  was  mil  yet  empty,  hut  that 
enura;.>e.  which  strongtlions  aiul  elcvatoH  in  iiUHfortum;,  iiuil  iKit 
forsiikeii  him. 


'  I.  0.,  nx  II  wiiniliii.'. 


11^ 


84 


MAJOR  OENEUAL  llllCDKSEL 


At  the  beginning  of'  the  year  Hiodt'scl  sent  one  of  liis  lulju- 
tants,  Lieutenant  Cleve.  to  Urunswiek  to  arrange  isoine  niatterH 
of  groat  importance.  This  oflieer  enjoyed  his  entire  eontideiiee, 
and.  being  jKirfeetly  satisfied  of  bis  faitlifubiess  and  eapaeity,  be 
used  liiui  in  the  nio.Ht  dilHeult  aflains.  Cleve  knew  bow  to  use 
the  pen  as  well  as  the  sword.'  In  addition  to  all  this,  be  pos- 
sessed it  elear  bead,  while  bis  taet  carried  hint  through  the 
most  intricate  combinations.'  I'pon  his  departure,  Hiedesel 
gave  him  a  letter  of  recommendation  to  Duke  Ludwig.  then  at 
the  Hague,  in  which  be  thus  speaks  of  him  : 

"The  talents,  the  military  knowledge,  the  diligence,  and  the 
good  character  of  Jiieutenant  Cleve  your  excellency  is  already 
ac(juaintcd  with.  It  is,  therefore,  not  necessary  for  me  to 
repeat  them  here.  Still.  1  cannot  pass  by  in  silence  the 
humble  duty  1  owe  to  your  exctdlCncy  in  obtaining,  by  your 
recommendation,  this  worthy  officer  for  my  adjutant,  who,  in 
every  conceivable  ca.se,  has  assisted  me  so  faithfully.  It  is,  per- 
haps, too  bold  for  u  person,  of  so  little  influence  as  myself,  to 
recommend  officers  to  your  excellency;  but  the  gratitude  1  owe 

nd  the  usual  limits 


to  Ijieutcnant  (Meve 


prompts  me  to  go  beyo 


of  j)rojirioty.  I  cannot  deny  that  I  should  most  sincerely  and 
humbly  thank  your  excelleiu-y,  if  hieutenant  Cleve,  by  your 
patroiuige,  received  promotion  in  the  army  ;  and  1  am  convinced 
that  lie  will  show  himself  worthy,  in  the  future,  of  this  high 
favor."- 


'  C'li'vc  was  in  the  -crviii'  of  llio  Xc'liriliuuls.  It  is  not  known  willi  ci'iliiinly  in 
wlial  prci'isc  MumniT  lie  Ij^'canic  allailu'd  to  Ulcilcsi'lV  stall'.  Hiilii'  Lndwl^;  <p|' 
Krniiswiik.  it  is  <ai(l,  olilaincd  liiin  as  an  adjutant  tor  liii'doscl.  'j'lu'  latter,  in  a 
li'ltcr  dnlod  March '.'r)li,  ITStl.  rctini'sts  tlu'  ^ovi'mor  o('  llio  Nctlu'rlands.  Ilic  princo 
of  Oranla.  to  proNnii;  tin-  lurloii^'li  of  his  adjutant,  as  he  was  In  liomn-  tioniid  to 
ri'tiirn  to  .Vnu'rii'a  :  t'lcviMinl  inivlnt;  brcn  as  yot  i'XcliaM;.'i'd,  lint  only  allowed  to 
}.'o  to  Knropc  on  iiaroli'. 

■'  l.ii'uti'nant  I'li'vr.  altlioinili  a  snhordinatc,  occnpli'd  no  nnlniporlanl  position. 
I)urin<;  llii'  .Vincricin  »var.  lie  olilained  a  trreat  knowled^'e  of  the  iiiternul  allairs  of 
that  eonntry.  Ilo  oeeupi'.'d  more  the  position  of  private  seeretar.N  to  (Jeiieral  Itied- 
osel  than  adjutant,  .\lter  the  war.  he  entered  the  Itninswuk  serviee.  and  died  at 
an  advaneed  a;:e  in  that  ecumlry  hi'jhly  honored  as  a  stall  ollleet.      .Wile  In  onyiiidl. 

I.ienlenani  iieve.  who  prohahly  ill  lesponse  to  KiedeuelV  iviuiiiuieiidalioii,  re- 


/.V  TIIK  AMKIilCAN  HEVOUTIoS. 


8A 


While  (loiu'r.il  Hii'doHol  waH  busy  (lisjHitcliiii};  letters  to  Ku- 
rope,  his  fiiiiiily  affairs  did  imt  appear  very  eoiisuliiifr.  His  wife 
Wiu*  delivered  of  a  daughter  on  the  Hth  of  March,  lie  was  thus 
oiiee  more  disappointed,  for  so  surely  hail  he  counted  on  a  son, 
that  he  had  already  seleeltMl  for  him  the  nann;  itf  Aini'rieuH. 
Now,  liowever.  there  heinjr,  instead  of  tlie  expected  heir,  an 
unexpected  heiress,  tlu!  male  name  was  ehanj^ed  into  a  female 
oiu!.  the  little  one  receivinu:  in  liaptism  tlit;  name  of  America, 
(ieiier^ds  I'hiilips  and  llaldimand,  together  with  tint  lle.'^.si.'in 
jieiu'ral,  Kiiyphausen  ami  the  Ih'ssian  colonel,  Von  Wurnd), 
acted  as  ptdfathers  to  the  little  one,  whom  Hiedesel.  notwith- 
standing: his  disappointment,  .soon  learntid  to  love  most  fondly. 
A  few  days  suhsi'ijuent  to  tlit^  haptism.  his  eldest  daughter  was 
taken  dangerously  sick,  and  shortly  after,  the  thinl  one,  Caroline, 
also,  fell  seriou.sly  ill,  (Jeneral  Kiedcsel,  who  loved  his  family 
dearly,  J)ecanie,  in  conse<|uence,  very  mueli  alarmed,  and  heiu}^ 
already  f.'reatly  depressed,  he  fell  into  a  state  of  melancholy 
hypochondria.  It  can,  therefore,  readily  he  seen  that  his  wife 
had  her  hands  fidl,  not  only  in  taking  care  of  her  sick  children  — 
both  id' whom  shared  her  bed  —  but  in  eheerinfrand  eomforlinf;; 
her  husbaiul.  I^'ortunately  her  naturally  joyous  tem])(>rament 
enabled  her  to  bear  these  misfortunes  (easily. 

Toward  the  dose  of  the  winter,  Tryon  retur»«'d  to  Kngland, 
taking  the  same  shij:  as  hieutenatit  ( 'leve.  Ifefore  his  de]>«rturo, 
he  presented  Mrs.  Hiedesel  with  a  most  beautiful  set  of  furniture, 
curtains,  silk  tapestry,  etc.,  'vith  ;i  ri'i|uest  thatshe  would  usethem 

for  hei mfort.     This  ireneral  wa>  an  intimate  friend  of  Uied- 

csel's  family,  having  been  during  the  whole  winter  a  cherished 
friend  in  the  family  circle.      Friendship  in  a  strange  land  during 


tltnii'rt  from  OiTtimny  n  ra/itdin.  l)roin;lii  lo  Hicilrnel  llio  iichh  Unit  IliirfjD.vm'  liiiil 
pmli'iiviiriMl  to  iiii'jiidiff  llic  imlillc  «),'«''"*•  ''i'"i  ''Y  ""'  "liilfmciU  tlmt  Iw  wni*  the 

niii-i' of  till' (Irfnii  iirar  H('niiiiiL'tiPi),  iiiul  in  cDiifoiiiU'ii I' Snial<ii,'a.     In  rt'fiilii- 

tiiin  lit  lliiw  Ktory.  Illcdi'ncl  wroi,' a  loni;  Icllrilo  lil!<  Hovcrci^rn  iiiinn  Ilic  ^iihjcrt. 
This  IfiliT  I  \\t\*  fi)  forlunali- a>  In  iininir.  'Inrini.'  ":>  visit  In  Uniiiswlclx  in  1s."i7, 
and  I  afcitrdlii;,'!)-  ^Im'  it  in  tin'  appciicli.x  to  tliis  work  uftiT  tlic  apiH'ndl.x  lo  tlio 
orltfUinl.  W   I,  S 


86 


MAJOli  (lENKUAL  UlKDKt^Kl. 


iiiiBf'ortuno,  and  at  a  frrcat  (li.stanco  from  lioiiio.  is  doubly  jomzihI  ; 
and  a  fwlinj;  of  unusnal  sadnei^s  fauns  on  (houi  when  tlicy  saw 
liiui  take  lii»  dcpartnic.  l'rovidcuc(s.  liowcvor.  Hcnt  a  now 
friend  to  replaco  tlio  lost  one.  (ii'iicral  Clinton,  wlio  was  at 
this  time   iu  New  Y'ork.  was  so  drawn  toward   this  (tornian 


family  that  he  also  was 


a  welcome  iruest  at  their  fireside 


At  first,  as   is   the   ease  with   every  educated    KufiJishman,  it 


was  very  dittieult   ti 


'PI 


)roa( 


h  h 


nil. 


He  was  polite,  hut  vcn 


dijrnified  and  formal.  His  first  visit  eoiisi.sted  of  a  series  of 
ceremonies  which  were  very  hiirdeiisoiiu;  to  hoth  parties.  Not- 
withstanding, however,  hoth  Uiedesel  and  his  wife  were  very 
miieli  jih'ased  with  liini  —  the  former  esteeming  him  highly  for 
his  talents  and  honesty.  Finnily.  Phillips,  who  was  well 
aei|uaiiite(l  with  Clintou,  succeeded  in  making  him  act  out  his 
natural  disposition,  and  thus,  his  ex'terior  having  hecn  thawed 
out.  he  lieeame  a  most  amialile  and  valualile  friend.  I'pon  tlic 
appntach  of  spring,  he  again  offered  his  villa  to  the  (ierman 


family. 


Ill  otter  wnich  was  gladly  aceep' 


iiy 


.ted. 


This  villa  now  looked  very  different  from  what  it  had  in  the 
winter  when  the  trees  were  leafless  and  tlie  fields  covered  with 
snow.  The  liouse,  closi!  by  which  the  beautiful  Hud.soii  fiowed, 
was  surrounded  liy  most  ciiarming  gardens,  clusters  of  trees  and 
shady  walks.  (h'casioiially  ('linttui  went  there  to  make  the 
family  a  visit,  liiit  always  in  the  garb  of  a  hunter  attended  by  a 
single  ailjiitant.  I  pon  his  last  visit  to  them,  he  was  accompa- 
nied by  the  amial.le  .Major  .\ndre.  who  soon  afterward  met  with 
such  a  terrible  flitt-. 

Meanwhile,  both  ISiedesel  and  Phillips  luisied  themselves 
with  till'  exchange  ol' the  jirisoners  —  the  former  having  already 
matured  a  jilan  for  (lie  reorganization  of  his  men  immediately 
U[)on  their  liberation.  Phillijis  wished  to  consider  the  infantry 
regiment  Uiedesel.  wliich  formed  a  jiart  of  the  second  div 
as  beloiiginii   to  the  first,   that    it  iiii":lit  sooner  be  excli 


ISIoll, 


iiiirea 


He,  accordingly,  suggested  this  to    {{iede.xel  knowing  that  he 
was  especially  interested  ill  this  regiment.     Hut  tlie  hitler  was 


/.V  rilH  AMKniCAN  nEVOLUTlOX. 


87 


Uw  just  to  agreo  to  it,  kiiowinj^  that  it  would  \w  im  act  of 
iiijiiMtici^  to  tluMitlit'i' rouiiiKMitH.  lie.  however,  thaiikcrt  Phillips 
in  a  letter  tor  his  friendly  offer,  but  said  that  the  dnijjjoon 
rejtinient.  the  rejiimeiit  Von  Jlhetz.  the  f.'renadier  battalion, 
and   the  lij^ht  battalion    had   the  next  elaiin  to  an  exehanj^e. 

The  ])leasant  visit  at  Clinton's  villa  was  clouded  by  the  ina- 
lif^nant  fevers  whieh,  in  that  country,  are  frecjuent  in  this 
season  of  th(i  year,  but  whit'h  were  even  worse  durin;:;  the 
present  year  than  usual.  At  one  tinusall  the  family  ol'  Hiedesel, 
ineludinj;  the  servants,  were  siek  with  the  exception  of  his  wife, 
the  pastor.  .Mylius.  aiul  the  faithful  yiif^er.  Rockel.  Tin;  jreneral, 
his  little  daujrhter  Augusta,  and  six  of  his  domestics  wr-re  at 
one  tinu^  at  death's  door.  Indeed,  at  one  period,  during  his 
illness,  the  former  cared  little  whether  he  lived  or  died ;  for  in 
addition  to  the  fever  he  was  attacked  with  a  disease  resembling; 
cholera,  wliieh  broujjht  him  very  low.  His  powerf\il  constitr. 
tion,  '.iowever,  aided  by  the  <'are  of  a  skillful  physician  from 
New  York,  enabled  him  to  conquer  this  severe  attack.  Mrs. 
Hiede;*«'l  had  the  entire  charge  of  this  hospital,  besides  nursing 
a  littl(!  infant ;  yt't  she  managed  to  attend  to  (he  comfort  of  all 
the  invalids.  Day  ami  night  she  ministerc-d  to  tins  wants  of 
her  husband  and  servants,  and  neglected  not  her  child.  During 
the  whole  of  this  tinu^  she  never  undressed,  but  threw  herself 
upon  tlu!  bed  ready  to  respond  at  a  monuMit's  notice  to  the  call 
of  the  sick.  In  a  word,  she  wasthvsanu!  arigcl  that  miiii.stcred 
to  the  woundcfl  during  the  days  of  terror  al  Saratoga.  A  kind 
providence  repaiil  her  for  her  self  saeri lice;  and.  she  had  the 
happiness  of  seeing  her  husband,  her  child  and  her  servants 
fully  restored  to  health. 

In  tlu;  beginning  of  .May.  the  llessi.in  c;  jitain,  \'on  (ieismar, 
one  of  lliedesel's  adjutants,  n^tunnil  to  l]uro]ie.  having  been 
recently  exchanged. '  Hiedesel  availed  hiuiself  nt  tiiis  opportu- 
nity to  send  Itjtters  and  dispatches. 


This  Ciiplain  (IriMniiir  had  l)i'Cii  dutuUoil  mi  Uiodcsfl'n  stulV  l,i  iilli'iid  lonll 


88 


SIAJOH  UtlNKltAL  IlIKDKSKh 


Towjird  the  latter  part  of  Juno,-  RiodoHcl  rccoivcMl  nfficiiil 
news  cii"  tlu!  dentil  (if  liin  Hoveroi^ii.  Diikc  ('linrles.  in  a  letter 
from  tlie  latter's  siiecessor,  Duke  CliarleH  William  Ferdinand, 
under  date  of  April  1st,  178((.  lie  was  greatly  afl'eeted  at  this 
sad  intellipMiee.  for  he  had  devDtedly  loved  his  sovereign,  and 
had  respected  him  for  his  many  good  (pialities  of  heart  and 
mind.  Dukt!  Charles  was  a  jirinee  who  enjoyed  the  love  of  his 
sulij(M!lH  to  a  greater  ("xtt^nt,  ju'rhaps,  than  any  otlu^r  of  his 
race.  Uiedesel,  therefore,  lost  no  time  i?i  availing  himself  of 
another  vessel,  that  sailed  the  last  of  June,  to  congratulate  his 
new  sovereign  on  the  threshold  of  his  reign,  and  t«  express, 
also,  his  grief  at  the  death  of  the  duke. 

After  th<!  successful  campaign  of  Clinton  against  Charleston, 
Riedesel  expected  that  an  exchange  would  surely  take  place ; 
but  he  was  again  disai)ii(iinted.  Congress  ccmld  not  nmke  up 
its  mind  to  deliver  up  tiie  captives,  of  whose  possession  it  was 
not  a  little  proud.  Accordingly  negotiations  were  begun  anew, 
and  another  sumnu^r  passed  \sithoHt  anything  having  been 
accomplished  toward  this  result. 

According  to  a  repiu't  of  Colonel  Specht.  made  the  Kith  of 
Augiist,  178((,  the  number  of  troops  at  t'harlottesville.  was  as 
follows  :  77  oflicers,  142  noncommissioned  officers,  25  drummers, 
H()!t  jtrivates  and  !H  servant.s ;  total,  1,147  men.  It  apjieared, 
also,  that  since  the  departure  of  Riedesel,  three  men  had  died, 
and  no  desert i<in;4  had  taken  place. 

I'pon  the  approach  of  autumn,  Riedesel  left  the  beautiful 
villa  of  Clinton,  and  moved  back  to  New  York.  Finally,  in 
October,  he  rciceived  the  intelligence  that  himsell'  and  (leneral 
Phillips,  with  their  respective  adjutants,  had  been  exchanged. 


t)iiHiiic«K  rclnling  to  llic  IIckco  Ilnnnii  Inioj)!'.  KKmIckcI  wnx  much  plvntod  with 
him.  IliidiiiK  him  ii  man  of  lionor  inid  ii'liiitiility.  AfliT  hiM  rxclmii;,'i'  lie  wiih  on  ilii; 
lioiiil  of  ri'tiiriiiliir  into  Cniiiiila,  Imt  haviiij;  received  an  nr^ent  letter  IVom  liiH 
fal'.ier,  HJio  was  eiurlily  vearK  old,  ai-liin;;  to  cee  liim  once  more  lielore  hin  deatli  in 
order  to  arriin;;e  Tamily  inatlerH,  Kieciehel  olilnined  lor  him  ii  I'urlongli  IVum  (ienoral 
rhillipH.-  Sole  to  miijimil. 


JN  THE  AMKltlVAN  liKVOLVTION. 


80 


IJut  liis  joy  was  diminiHliod  by  tho  fact  that  c(mj,'ross  liad  ro- 
fuacd  tti  (ixeliarigo  tlio  vvnt  (it'tliu  wipturod  tmopH. 

Iiiiiiiediatuly  upon  his  oxchaiij^e,  ( 'liiitoii,  that  his  iiii;rht  reward 
his  sorvicoH  and  also  coiiipliineiit  tho  new  duko  of  UniiiHwiek, 
nominated  Kiodosol  for  lifuffiuiuf  ifnit  r>il.  and  that  he  might 
have  a  field  lor  liis  activity,  gave  him,  at  tlio  same  time,  a  com 
mand  on  liong  island  opposite  New  York.  Mrs.  |{iedesoI 
remained  for  the  present  in  tiie  city.  It  will  soon  be  seen  in 
what  condition  Itiedesel  found  his  new  command. 

Kncouraged  by  th(!  victory  of  Clinton  over  (leneral  liincolu 
at  Charleston,  (iencral  Cornwallis  ,  i  October  started  for  North 
Carolina ;  but  learning  tliat  a  corps,  which  he  had  sent  in  u 
more  northerly  direction,  had  been  attacked  and  annihilated, 
he  returned  into  South  Carolina.  Some  other  advantages, 
achieved  by  the  Americans  in  the  fall  of  tliis  year,  gave  them 
so  much  encouragement  that  they  still  confidently  believed  in 
the  success  of  their  cause. 


1781. 

It  was  no  small  proof  of  the  confidence  which  was  reposed  in 
General  Kiedesel  that  he  should  have  been  given  the  comnuind 
on  Long  island.  This  was  one  of  the  largest  islands  lielongiiig 
to  the  northern  states,  and  was  considered  the  bulwark  of  New 
York,  at  that  time  the  most  important  place  in  tlie  po.ssession  of 
tlie  Knglish.  New  York  was  the  great  depot  for  the  stores  of 
the  army;  and  Long  island  was  the  main  barb  tr  for  the  fleet. 
The  latter  was  occupied  by  the  flower  of  the  Knglish  troops. 
Scarcely  any  (iermans  were  there;  and  the  work  of  fortifying 
the  place  was  constantly  going  on. 

A  small  house  was  given  to  Kiedesel  for  a  dwelling.  It  was 
at  Urooklyn,  and  looked  out  upon  the  bay.  A  strict  watch 
was  obliged  to  be  kept,  for  the  island  being  .so  near  the  main 
land  an  assault  by  the  enemy  could  easily  be  made,     liiedesel, 


00 


MAJOR  OKXKItAl.  RIKDKSKL 


ncconliii^Iy.  soii^'lit  tn  tiiiiiiliiiriy.(>  liiiiiHcIt'  with  tlio  iHlaiul.  ITu 
vinilcMl  all  tlu;  t'ltitiKi'd  jilacoH  ami  ()ut])imtH.  making  licrc  nnd 
tlicH'  tliiist!  aitcratioiiH  which  struck  him  as  necessary.  'I'lio 
Knglish,  p'lici'aily.  (hi  not  like  to  li(>  cummamlcd  hy  a  tiirci;;ncr  ; 
l)ut  Huch  was  tho  hive  in  which  they  hehl  Uieiiesci.  that  they 
(ilieyeil  him  clieerrully.  The  iiHieeis,  csiieeially,  vied  with  each 
iithcr  in  manifesting  their  gddd  will. 

.Meanwhile,  Cnlonel  Sjieeht,  in  eonsetjueneo  ol'  his  gmwing 
ill  health  and  his  advanced  agu,  asked  permission  to  return  to 
Murojie.  As  Kiedcsel  chtierfully  consented,  tin*  eommandtu'  in 
chief  made  no  oppusition.  Spt'cht.  therefore,  lel't  New  York 
in  •January.  Kiedesel  availed  himself  <if  this  opportunity  to 
send  off  his  letters  and  dispatches.  Ainon};  these  was  the  fol- 
hiwing  answer  to  the  hereditary  prince  of  llessia: 

'•  To  hU  /lii/liiiixs.  till   lliriililiifif  J'n'iiiT. 

"  f  Jracious  Prince  ami  Ii<ird  :  The  kind  letter  of  your  highnesH, 
of  tlu'  r)th  of  September  of  Inst  year,  has  awakened  in  me  I'eelingH 
of  the  ]irofoundcst  gratitude  and  devotion  ;  and  the  kind  t^.xpres- 
sions  of  my  future  .sovereign  reward  me  a  hundrt-d  fold  iiir  tho 
little  care  which  I  have  hcstowed  upon  the  troops  of  your  highiu'SH, 
and  which,  indeed,  have  been  amply  merited  by  the  conduct  of 
the  troops  themselves.  Your  higliness  may  rest  assured  that  I 
shall  never  Im  weary  in  licstowing  upon  those  brave  troops,  who 
have  shared  all  the  fortunes  ami  misfortunes  of  our  own  men,  the 
same  care,  attention  and  devotion  which  1  give  to  the  .soldiers  of 
his  highness,  my  own  duke.  It  is  possible  that  your  highness 
will  be  astonished  at  the  result  of  the  new  measures  which  have 
been  emj)lo\cd  in  behalf  of  the  jirisoners.  After  all  po.ssiblo 
ellortsto  bring  about  a  gt^neral  exchange,  and  the  rebels  having 
introduced  —  moved  by  an  incomprehensible  jirejudice  —  the 
system  of  refusing  all  propositions  in  regard  to  tlio.se  troops, 
choosing  rather  that  iheir  prisoners  at  Charleston  should  die 
than  be  exchangid,  the  Knglish  si'cretary  of  war  has  found  it 
advisable  to  exchange  all  their  Huperllu<ius  oflicers  and  employ 


/.V  Tllh:  .\Mh:uirA.\  llHVnl.l  ri(>\. 


01 


tlii'iii  ill  iiHuT  iiliiiH'M.     It  i>*  liiiiM'il   ill  lliis   way  I"   iiciitnilizo 
801110  III'  till'  evil  tiiat  Iiiih  licoii  ciiiisnl  by  tliis  Htiililmiii  ilcti'iition. 

"  III  piirxiiaiici'  (tf  an  nrdor  tVoin  tlic  iiiiiiish-r,  flic  ruHowiiij; 
nioasiirt'H  liavc  liocii  adtiptcd.  viz:  Ist.  Tlit!  caiitiircd  tninpis  aro 
no  ioii^rcr  to  lu!  considered  as  re^imonts,  but  as  detacliiiii'iils. 
2(1.  Th(!  siijierfliioiiH  Hiijrlisli  oflicersan!  to  ^^o  to  Kiiirlaiid.  and, 
by  rtuTiiitin;,'  in  tliiit  country,  fill  up  tlic  n-jiinicnts  as  iiiiicli  as 
possible.  ;{d.  Tlie  superfluous  (lerinan  oflieers  arc  to  go  to 
Canada  to  the  detaclinieiits  which  were  left  tliero,  and  tiu'in  the 
rocriiits  that  arrive  there  IVoni  fiini!  to  time,  into  coni|>aiiies. 
According  to  this  arrangenient.  1st,  one  oHicer  remains  with 
the  (iermaii  troii|is  who  is  to  command  the  whole  detachment. 
This  officer  is  iiieuteiiant  Colonel  Wm  .Mcn;;en.  2d,  one  cap- 
tain iVoiii  each  regiment,  and  !td,  oiu'  noiieoinmissioncd  nfficer 
t'roiii  ouch  company.  In  thiw  situation  the  unfortunafe  troopH 
mii.st  await  their  future  late. 

•  Hrigadicu'  (ieneral  (iall  h.is,  T  presume,  reported  to  your 
highness  the  names  ol"  the  officers  whom  he  hiis  himselt'  ap- 
pointed to  remain  in  \'irgiiiia.  I'art  of  the  officers,  who  are  to 
be  exchanged,  have  already  arrived  hero. 

"(Jcner.il  Washington,  although  he  declined  the  secmid  appli- 
cation, has  altere(|  bis  mind  and  agreed  to  an  exchange.  I  am, 
tlierel'ore,  in  hopes  that  tin;  order  lor  an  exehang*'  will  so(»ii 
roach  us  bore.  In  this  case.  I  shall,  alter  rocoiving  orders  t'roiii 
the  coinmaiiding  officer.  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  gi)  to  Canada,  lor 
the  purpose  of'sctting  the  troops  iit' my  gracious  master  to  work 
by  regimciits  in  uecurdanco  with  the  instruetioii.s  ol'liis  majesty 
the  king. 

'•Nothing  would  give  mc  more  joy  than  to  succeed  in  carry- 
ing out  the  ordeiv  of  your  highness,  hot  mo  i-eceiveyoiir  (U'ders 
in  detail  upon  this  point. 

"  I  roiiiain,  with  the  devotion  becoming  a  subject, 

'•  Voiir  highne.ss's  most  obedient  servant, 

''  KiKDKSKI,.  Major  (ieneral. 

'■Hrooklyn,  February  2l».  I7SI." 
12" 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


IIIM 


u 

a  

It  1^0 

Km  1^ 


||M 

2.2 
2.0 


1.8 


1.25 

1.4 

1.6 

^ 

6"     — 

► 

V] 


<^ 


/}. 


%^ 


»> 


^!^ 
^>^ 


C?>% 


7 


# 


/!^ 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


,\ 


4v 


^^ 


^^ 


4. 


o 


'<^\ 
.  «> 


v^ 


c> 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREFT 

WEBSTER, NY.  MS80 

(716)  872-4503 


f/j 


<> 


i 


E^ 


02 


MAJOli  OEXKltAL  IHEDKfiKL 


The  next  step  of  Riodesel  was  to  issue  a  general  pardon  for 
deserters,  lioping,  by  this  means,  to  collect  his  scattered  forces. 
It  reads  as  follows  : 

"  Gkneral  Pardon. 

"  From  Major  General  Ricdesel,  baron  of  Eisenbach,  com- 
mander of  the  troops  of  his  highness,  the  duke  of  Brunswick, 
which  troops  are  now  in  the  service  of  Great  Britain. 

"  As  there  are  now  several  noncommissioned  officers  and  pri- 
vates of  the  Brunswick  troops,  who  have  deserted  and  are  now 
in  the  enemy's  ranks,  or  are  concealed  in  the  country  of  the 
rebels,  therefore,  I  hereby  declare  a  full  pardon  to  all  those  who 
shall  return  to  the  army  of  the  king,  and  who  shall,  for  this 
purpose,  report  themselves  to  a  Brunswick  officer,  before  the 
15th  of  August,  within  the  lines  of  the  royal  British  army.  I, 
also,  declare  that  they  shall  be  returned  to  their  respective  regi- 
ments without  receiving  any  punishment.     Given  under  my  hand, 

"BiKDKSKli,  Major  General. 
"  lirooklyn.  Long  Island,  February  22,  1781. 

"  By  order  of  Major    General  Von  lliedesel. 

"  Captain  Cleve,  Aid  de  camp." 


Although  the  number  of  deserters,  who  reported  in  conse- 
quence of  this  pardon,  was  not  as  large  as  was  expected,  some 
availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity  to  return  to  their  flag. 
Those  who  did  thus  return  were  doubtless  influenced,  not  only 
by  the  pardon,  but  by  the  immediate  prospect  of  active  military 
life.  Many,  of  cinirse,  who  earnestly  desired  it,  could  not  leave 
the  American  army,  nor  the  farms  upon  which  they  had  hired 
themselves  out  to  work.  They  were  watched  too  closely  j  besides 
which,  those  Germans,  who  liad  gone  over  to  the  Americans,  were, 
as  a  matter  of  course,  never  permitted  to  go  into  battle  nor  per- 
form duty  on  the  outposts.  They  were  obliged  to  do  other  ser- 
vice in  the  interior  of  the  country  where  there  was  no  chance 
for  escape. 


' 


JN  TllK  AMKltlCAN  RKVOLITIOS. 


93 


During  his  stay  in  Brooklyn,  Riedescl  found  many  tilings 
that  did  not  suit  him.  He  was  stationed  lun-e  on  an  imiiortant 
post  with  strange  troops  under  his  command,  while  his  own 
men  were  in  Canada  under  another  officer.  Those  latter, 
reenl'orced  by  recruits  from  Germany,  must  be  organi7x>d  and 
drilled  before  they  could  be  used  against  the  enemy.  Should 
he  leave  this  work  to  another?  Hut  in  addition  to  all  this,  the 
climate  around  New  York  was  unfavorable  to  his  health ;  he 
having  had  frequent  attacks  of  fever  during  his  residence  there. 
He  had  more  hope  of  recovering  in  Canada  where  the  air  was 
purer  and  more  strengthening,  and  the  climate  of  which  had 
formerly  agreed  with  him.  He  was,  also,  pretty  well  convinced 
that  his  stay  in  Long  island  would  be  but  temporary.  It  was, 
however,  his  earnest  wish,  before  leaving  this  part  of  the  country 
and  before  bidding  adieu  to  General  Phillips,  who  had  been  to 
him  such  a  staunch  friend,  to  arrange  all  the  details  relating  to 
the  exchange  of  the  captured  troops  in  Virginia.  He  accord- 
ingly wrote  to  Phillips  the  following  letter : 

"  My  Lord :  I  beg  pardon  for  troubling  you  so  often  with 
the  same  request.  But  I  am  very  anxious  that  matters  in 
Virginia  should  be  brought  to  a  close  by  means  of  your  inter- 
cession. To  me  it  is  of  the  greatest  importance  that  Captain 
Gerlacli  should  arrive  in  Virginia  to  settle  the  accounts  of  the 
troops,  before  the  (juarter  masters  of  the  regiments  who  are 
included  in  the  list  of  exchanged  officers.  It  is,  also,  necessary 
that  Captain  Gerlach  should  return  and  report  in  regard  to  the 
result  of  his  mission  before  I  leave  Now  \'ork.  1'iiis  is  ren- 
dered the  more  iuqierative,  because,  before  leaving  New  Vork 
I  desire  to  send  a  full  report  to  my  sovereign  of  all  agreements 
that  have  been  entered  into  respecting  the  prisoners  while  I 
was  in  command.  I  am  about  entering  upon  a  new  sphere  in 
Canada,  and  design  placing  myself  at  the  head  of  the  troops  of 
my  sovereign,  who  are  now  in  that  province.  Taking,  therefore, 
these  motives  which  I  have  mentioned  into  consideration,  you 
will,  I  think,  find  my  request  justifiable,  and  will  excuse  the 


mm 


U 


MAJOli  OENKRAL  ItlEDKSEL 


liberty  which  I  take  in  tlms  constantly  troubling  you  with  tlio 
same  thing. 

"One  thing  which  increases  my  impatience  is,  that  you  may 
have  to  leave  for  Virginia  before  all  the  orders  and  dispatches 
have  been  properly  arranged.  Tills  would  crush  all  my  hopes. 
It  would  place  me  in  an  unpleasant  position  as  regards  my 
government  of  the  troDps;  and  consequently  all  my  labors 
for  six  years  would  be  repaid  by  the  disapprobation  of  my 
sovereign. 

'"  Having  thus  poured  out  my  heart,  nothing  remains  but  to 
trust  you.     This  I  do,  at  the  same  time  remaining 
"  With  all  considerate  respect, 
"  As  ever,  etc., 

'•  lliEUESEL,  Major  General. 

"Brooklyn,  February  25,  1781." 


General  I'hillips  was  ordered  to  assume  command  in  the 
south.  A  detachment,  under  General  Jioslie,  had  already  been 
sent  thither  by  (Jlinton ;  afterwards  another  under  Arnold, 
who.  as  senior  officer,  took  the  command  of  both.  In  March, 
I'hillips  was  sent  to  Virginia  with  two  thousand  English  troops 
as  reonfiirci'ments.  The  latter  immediately  a.ssumed  the  entire 
command,  (jicucral  lliedesel  was  to  go  north.  The  separation 
was  very  sad.  IJoth,  having,  for  so  long,  shared  each  others 
pleasures  and  pains,  had  become  very  dear  friends.  They, 
therefore,  now  embraced  each  other  for  the  last  time  ;  for 
Phillips  died  on  the  9th  of  May  at  Petersburg  of  a  fever.  In 
him  the  English  army  lost  one  of  its  best  and  most  careful 
generals. 

As  soon  as  spring  appeared  Madam  Kiedesel,  with  her 
children,  and  servants,  uioved  over  to  Brooklyn  to  be  with  her 
husband.  The  house  in  which  he  lived  being  small,  she  was 
obliged  to  get  along  with  very  little  room.  From  the  house, 
however,  she  hacl  a  magnificent  view  of  the  city  and  its  harbor. 
The  outposts  were  now  more  than  ever  exposed  to  attack  ;  and 


J.\   Tllh:  AMEinVAN  IlEVOLVTlUX. 


95 


Major   Miiiboni,  who   had    just  rcturiuxl  IVoin  captivity,  was 
surprised  one  night  in  his  bed  and  carried  off.' 

The  Americans  were  exceedingly  anxious  to  capture  lliedesel. 
Being  well  aware  of  this  fact,  however,  he  was  very  vigilant. 
Indeed,  such  was  his  terror  of  another  captivity,  that  he  only 
slept  when  sure  that  his  wife  was  awake ;  and,  as  it  was,  he 
would  jump  out  of  bed  at  the  slightest  noise.  Hven  a  strong 
guard,  which  remained  iu  the  house  night  and  day,  he  did  not 
consider  sufficient. 

Those  of  the  German  troops  who  were  on  Long  island  were 
organized  into  a  battalion  and  garrisoned  at  Flatbush.     It  was 
entirely  officered  by  (Tcrmans,  and  was  commanded  by  Major 
Lucke.     Those  Brunswick  dragoons,  also,  that  had  been  cap- 
tured near  Bennington  and  exchanged,  were  stationed  here. 
Schlagenteuffel,  captain  of  cavalry,  commanded  them.     In   a 
general  order,  dated  the  29th  of  April,  (icneral  Riedesel.  among 
other  things,  says  ;  "  Captain  of  cavalry,  Schlagenteuffel,  senior, 
will  make  such  arrangements  at  the  quarters  of  the  officers  as 
shall  guard  against  a   surprise.     At  a   quarter  of  nine  each 
morning,  the  men,  who  were  to  do  guard  duty,  gathered  on  the 
parade  ground  and  formed  into  four  companies.     The  pickets 
for  the  night  turned  out  at  the  same  time,  but  returned  to  the 
barracks  after  the  parade.     3Iajor  Lucke  had   cliarge  of  the 
parade.     The  men  marched  oft'  to  the  sound  of  music.     Iloll 
call  was  at  half-past  six  in  the  evening.     3Iajor  Lucke  wa.-<  the 
officer  in  charge  on  these  occasions  also.     He  drilled  the  men 
with  muskets,  at  the  same  time  making  them  practice  all  kinds 
of  evolutions  in  marching,     lliedesel  was  generally  present  both 
at  parade  and  roll  call.     ^Vt  night  a  patrol,  composed  of  three 
officers  and  two  noncommisioned  officers  composed  the  beat.     It 
was  their  duty  to  visit  all  the  sentinels  and  posts  at  Brooklyn 
and  the  fort.     These  patrols  were  obliged,  also,  to  pay  special 


'  Major  Maiboni,  from  dccpair  and  eiimil  lUiriii!,'  his  captivity,  I)ecamo  addicted 
to  dninkcniicsg,  a  vico  from  wlildi  lie  uovcr  recovered.—  Xote  to  orirjinal. 


96 


M.UOlt  UENEUAL  JilBUKSEL 


attention  to  the  sailors,  who  were  in  the  habit  ot'  f?oinjj;  about 
drinkinj^  at  tlie  different  saloons,  fij^hting  and  raising  a  dis- 
turbance. At  Yellow  hook  there  were  stationed  one  officer, 
three  noncommissioned  officers  and  twenty  privates.  On  the 
(ith  of  -May,  Hiodesol  issued  special  instructions  to  have  all  the 
single  posts  well  guarded.  'J'his  had  been  hitherto  neglected  by 
the  English.     These  instructions  were  headed  "  RK(lur,ATloN.s 

Foil   TlfK  DlKKKIiK.NT  (ll'.VIU>S   iN  ANI»  AKOIINI*  Hr(»(»KI,YN." 

As  has  already  been  remarked,  Hiedesel  had  re(juested  Gene- 
ral Phillips  to  exchange  several  (lerman  officers;  but  when  the 
next  exchange  took  place  no  (Jernians  were  included  in  it. 
Very  nuich  offended,  he  appealed  directly  to  General  Washing- 
ton. The  following  cm'respondence  in  regard  to  it  will  explain 
itself: 


Gk.NKRAL  lllKI)E.SKI-  TO  GENKRAIi  WaSIIINUTON. 

"Brooklyn,  April  "l?,,  1781. 

"Sir:  Several  of  the  German  officers  captured  at  Saratoga, 
having  appealed  to  nic  to  procure  their  exchange  on  account  of 
family  affairs,  I  requested  Major  General  Phillips  to  propose 
to  your  excellency  such  an  exchange  as  would  be  an  answer  to 
my  request.  General  I'hillips  sent  me  your  letter  in  which 
you  consent  to  it;  in  consequence  of  which  I  handed  General 
I'hillips  a  list  oi'  those  officers  whose  exchange  \  requested. 
This  list,  he  assures  me,  has  been  sent  to  you. 

"  But  as  all  the  English  officers,  whose  exchange  Major 
General  Phillips  re((ue.sted,  have  arrived  unaccompanied  by  a 
single  German  officer,  I  presume  that  said  list  has  never 
reached  your  excellency ;  for  T  believe  that  you,  sir,  are  governed 
by  the  same  impartiality  toward  my  nation  as  toward  any  other. 
I,  therefore,  take  the  liberty  to  reiterate  the  request  of  General 
Phillips,  that  you,  sir,  will  have  the  goodness  to  respect  the 
claim  of  those  German  officers  who  arc  mentioned  in  the  list  (a 
copy  of  which  T  here  inclose),  and  will  order  those  gentlemen 
to  be  sent  to  New  York. 


/.V  TIIF;  AMKIlldAS  ItKyohVTIoy. 


97 


"  ^Fiijor  Maiborii  of  my  roj^iment  of  dragoons,  and  Ensign 
Maiborn  of  luy  infantry  regiment  belonging  to  lii.s  higiiness  the 
duko  of  Brunswick,  having  been  captured  a  few  days  since  on 
Long  island,  I  would  consider  it  a  proof  of  your  excellency's 
kindness,  if  you  would  allow  these  two  officers  to  come  to  New 
York  on  parole.  The  poor  health  of  Major  3Iaiborn  reciuires 
special  attention  ;  and  T  shall  do  all  in  my  power  to  induce  his 
excellency  Sir  Henry  Clinton  to  exchange  them,  provided  your 
excellency  is  so  kind  as  to  give  your  consent. 
"  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

"  Your  excellency's  humble  servant, 

"  JliKi)K.SKr..  3Iajor  General." 


General  Washington  to  General  Riedesel. 

"Head  Quahteks,  New  Windsor,  3Im/  11,  17S1. 

"Sir:  T  have  received  your  favor  of  April  without  a  date.' 
Either  you  must  be  wrongly  informed  in  regard  to  the  letter 
addressed  to  me  by  (ieneral  Phillips,  dated  December  2:Jd.  and 
iny  answer  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton  of  January  25th,  or  you  have 
misunderstood  them.  I,  therefore,  inclose  copies  of  them.  I 
only  consented  to  an  exchange  of  those  Jiri'dsh  officers  who  are 
expressly  mentioned  in  (Jeneral  Phillips's  letter,  and  rejected 
his  proposition  that  an  indefinite  number  of  British  and  German 
officers  should  be  sent  to  New  York  under  the  superintendence 
of  Brigadier  General  Hamilton. 

"  Some  time  after  this,  other  propositions,  under  date  of 
iNfareh  3d,  were  made  to  me,  having  reference  to  other  ex- 
changes, among  which  were  those  German  officers  whom  you 
have  mentioned.  These  propositions  were  submitted  to  me 
tlirough  my  commissioner  general  of  priM(»ncrs,  but  which  I  did 
not  consider  it  advisable  to  accept,  as  I  was  convinced  that  the 


'  In  the  originnl  draft,  the  date,  April  28tli,  U  given.    Tliis  was  probably  omitted 
in  tlic  copy  liy  Riedesel's  secretary,  by  mistake.—  Note  to  oHginul. 


IT- 


98 


MAJOll  OKNKIiAL  IIJEDKSKL 


cxclianyc  of  Lieutenant  General  Burgoyne  would  be  unreason- 
ably long  postponed.  My  answer  and  instructions  in  regard 
to  this  clause  have  been  given  at  length  through  iMessrs. 
Skinner  and  Loring. 

"  Even  it'  I  were  inclined  to  be  partial  to  the  British  officers, 
it  would  be  impossible  to  do  so,  since  the  selection  of  those 
exchanged  is  not  left  to  me. 

"  As  regards  your  special  request,  T  have  given  orders  that 
iNFajor  and  Ensign  Maiborn  shoidd  be  sent  to  New  York  on 
parole. 

"  I  have  the  honor,  etc., 

"  Wahhinuton." 


GENEUAri  RiEDESEr,  TO  THE  IIereuitauy  Prince  of 

IIessia. 

"  7'o  /(/,s  II!<jhncss  the  HcrcxJ iturij  Prince  of  Jfcssid. 

"  Gracious  Prince  and  Lord  :  Since  my  letter  to  your  high- 
ness, under  date  of  April  28th,  I  have  been  pained  to  learn 
from  the  report  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Von  Mengen,  who,  after 
the  departure  of  the  colonel  and  brigadier  general,  has  taken 
the  command  of  the  captured  Brunswick  troops,  that  congress 
lias  finally  taken  the  treacherous  step  of  entirely  annulling  the 
treaty  by  separating  the  officers  from  the  noncommissioned 
officers  and  privates,  and  prohibiting  all  communication  between 
them.  It  has,  also,  cut  down  the  usual  rations  for  each  man  to 
one-fourth,  and  has  taken  them  entirely  from  the  officers  and 
servants. 

"  This  unfortunate  change,  which  must  i-esult  in  obliging 
the  privates  thus  left  to  themselves  to  obtain  sustenance  by 
working  around  the  country,  occurred  during  the  month  of 
April.  All  of  the  German  officers  are  at  present  at  Winchester 
in  Virginia  within  a  circumference  of  ten  English  miles.  The 
privates  are  four  English  miles  from  the  latter  place,  living  in 
the  woods  in  huts  which  they  were  generally  obliged  to  build 
for  themselves. 


ill 


IN  THE  AitEllICAN  ItEVOLUTION. 


99 


"  111  .s|)ito,  iiI.Ho,  of  all  till)  ropn'St'iitiitiuiiH  which  havi)  bciiii 
made,  congrcsH  Iimh  forliiddcn  any  (iHicor  to  viwit  tlio  men  ;  and 
the  qufstion  wliuthor  or  not  a  rcginiontal  snrgoon  nhall  ln>  pcr- 
iiiittod  to  attend  on  the  sick,  will  not  probably  be  deeided  before 
the  middle  of  next  month. 

"I  see  by  the  report  of  Lieutenant  ('oloiiel  Von  ^feiif^en, 
tliat  he  knew  as  early  as  the  22d  of  April  of  ('aptaiii  Geriach's 
arrival  in  Virginia.  This  officer  brings  miiiey,  clothing,  uni- 
forms and  other  articles  to  the  troops,  a  circumstance  which 
will  be  of  no  small  consolation  to  this  unfortunate  corps  in  its 
present  lamentable  situation. 

"  As  the  officers  have  been  rendered  powerl&ss,  by  this  breach 
of  faith  of  congress,  to  continue  their  praiseworthy  efforts  for 
the  care  of  the  troops,  I  have  asked  of  his  highness,  my 
sovereign,  permission  to  leave  one  officer  with  each  regiment, 
whose  duty  it  shall  bo  to  sec  that  the  men  receive  what  articles 
the  general  in  chief,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  may  allow  to  be 
forwarded  from  time  to  time  to  this  corps.  I  liave  also  asked 
him  whether  it  would  not  be  best  to  have  all  the  other  officers 
exchanged  and  made  use  of  in  places  where  they  can  be  made 
available  to  the  service.  As  I  cannot  expect  his  answer  while 
in  New  York,  I  have  requested  him  to  send  his  reply  direct  to 
Lieutenant  (Jolonel  Mengeii,  and  at  the  same  time  to  inform 
the  commanding  general  at  this  post  in  regard  to  his  wishes. 

"  As  long  as  it  lies  in  my  power  to  extend  to  this  corps,  and  the 
other  troops  of  your  liighness  a  helping  hand,  be  it  ever  so  little, 
I  shall  always  consider  it  one  of  my  most  sacred  duties  to  do  so. 
This  much  I  should  feel  obliged  to  do  from  the  deep  reverence 
and  great  attachment  I  feel  toward  a  prince  whose  troops  have 
been  faithful  companions  in  our  alas  I  general  misfortune. 

'■  With  the  heartfelt  assurance  of  my  deepest  devotion, 
"  I  remain  your  highness's 

"  Most  obedient  servant, 

"  KiEDESKli,  Major  General. 

"Brooklyn  on  Long  island,  May  9,  1781." 

la* 


)" 


,  f 

M\ 

'n 
m 


M 


100 


MAJOR  OKSEliAL  ItlEDKSKL 


'A'  f 


It  hns  boon  m  >n  by  a  lettor  mentioned  a  little  way  buck  iVoni 
Kiodesel  to  I'liillipH,  that  the  former  hud  retjuewted  the  Ame- 
rican j^iivernnient  for  a  flaj,'  of  truce  under  which  Captain  <ier- 
lach  ini};lit  visit  Virginia.  Tiie  reabons,  also,  which  induced 
Uicdesel  to  hasten  this  matter,  have  also  been  adverted  to. 
(JeiMjrul  I'liillips  not  only  attended  to  tliis  request  of  the  CJcr- 
ninn  jieneral.  but  procured  from  Washiiif^ton  a  pass  for  (lerlaeh 
to  \'irginia.  The  latter  took  with  him  money,  clothing  and 
other  necessary  articles  for  the  troops  wlio  were  literally  desti- 
tute of  everything,';  and  his  visit,  therefore,  could  not  be  post- 
poned. 

The  pass  from  (General  Washington  read  "as  far  as  the  coast 
of  ^'irginia."  At  this  jioint.  Captain  Gerlach  was  directed  to 
apply  to  the  governor  of  the  province.  General  Jefferson,  who, 
he  was  told,  would  arrange  matters  in  regard  to  the  transporta- 
tion of  the  supplies  by  land  as  far  us  Winchester.  Gerlach, 
accordingly,  applied  to  the  governor;  but  the  latter  raised  so 
many  objections  that  he  was  forced  to  write  to  llicdesel  for 
further  instructions.  The  German  general,  who  was  no  little 
embarrassed  by  these  repeated  delays,  at  once  wrote  on  the  3d 
of  June,  to  General  ( 'ornwallis  reijuesting  him  as  tlie  nearest 
general  to  Governor  Jefter.son,  t«  attend  to  the  matters  of  Ger- 
lach. Cornwallis  immediately  entered  into  the  aff'air  with  the 
greatest  zeal,  and  with  so  much  success  that  Gerlach  finally 
reached  Winchester  with  his  supplies.  He  found  the  troops  in 
a  very  miserable  plight,  living  in  huts,  and  in  want  of  every- 
thing.    The  English  troops  were  at  Yorktown. 

On  the  Gth  of  June,  Riedesel  wrote  from  Urooklyn  to  Briga- 
dier General  Specht  in  Canada,  as  follows :  "  I  cannot  blame 
you,  my  brother, '  if  you  should  believe  that  I  had  been  buried 
long  since  or  had  forgotten  my  Canadian  friends.  But  never  in 
my  life,  have  I  seen  so  little  intercourse  between  two  provinces 
so  near  together  as  Canada  and  New  York.  I  verily  believe 
that  I  could  easier  send  a  letter  to  Batavia  than  to  Canada." 


'  I.  I'..  Iii'otlior  in  arms. 


r 


7.V  r/lK-AME/ilCA.V  nEVOLUTlON. 


101 


HiedoHcl  hail  iKtw  Ihhmi  a  loiij;-  tiiiio  in  romliiicss  to  stiirt  for 
Ciiniula  with  forty  officers  and  four  hundred  nmn,  hut  the  ne- 
cessary escort  was  wantin;;.  This  was  to  have  consisted  of  ti 
fri^'ate  ;  but  the  Hritisl:  admiral  appeared  lotii  to  furnish  one. 
Tiio  Hessian  colonel,  \m  (iall,  had  already  left  New  Vork  for 
fiorniany,  when  lliedesel  rerieived  from  the  hereditary  jjrince, 
the  letter  dated  April  18th.  Colonel  fiall  was  very  unkindly 
received  by  the  prince  in  conseijuenee  of  havinj;  left  America 
without  permission.  This  action  of  the  prince,  however,  also 
arose  from  his  having  heard  that  (Jall  had  been  partial  in  his 
conduct  of  his  men,  and  had  embezzled  money.  This  is  seen 
by  the  following  letter  from  the  prince  to  Kiedesel : 

"Hanau,  April  \^,  1781. 
My  very  dear  Major  General :  The  especial  kindness  which 
you  constantly  manifest  toward  me  and  my  soldiers,  and  for 
which  my  warmest  thanks  are  continually  due  you,  leads  me 
to  hope  that  you  will  not  conceal  from  me  in  any  particular,  the 
conduct  of  riolonel  Von  Gall,  who  has  been  so  long  under  your 
command,  and  who  has  returned  without  my  permissioji.  lie  is 
accused  of  retaining  money  and  appropriating  it  to  his  own  use, 
and  also  of  partiality.  It  is  even  said  that  he  was  tried  by  a 
commission  in  Canada.  Since  it  is  incumbent  upon  me  to  go 
to  the  bottom  of  this  matter,  and  since  this  officer  by  all  appear- 
ances seems  guilty,  I  conjure  you  to  send  me  a  speedy  answer 
regarding  this  whole  matter.  Keep  nothing  from  me ;  but  give 
me  a  special  proof  of  your  interest  in  my  men,  who  have  been 
so  unfortunate  and  so  abused.  I  ask  you  to  do  me  this  favor 
as  an  old  Hessian,  and  for  the  good  of  the  service. 
"  In  real  friendship  and  high  esteem, 

"  I  remain  your  sincere  and  true  friend, 

"  William,  Hereditary  Prince  of  Hessia. 

"  P.  S.     I  send  a  copy  of  this  letter  to  New  York,  not  know- 
ing whether  or  not  you  have  left  there  for  Canada. 
"To  General  Von  Riedesel,  Canada." 


f> 


101: 


MAJOli  aES'EHAL  llfh'OKSKL 


(Jciicrnl  Ilit'doHi'l.  wIki  had  not  susiicctcd  aiiylliinn  id'  this 
kind,  was  very  iniicli  astoiiiHlifd  at  the  cimlcntH  (d'  tlii.s  letter. 
After  exaiiiiiiinj;'  the  case,  lie  retiirnefl  the  lidlMwiiij,'  answer  to 
the  prince : 

"  Til /lis  iiinst  SI  ri  iir  //ii/hniss.  f/ir  I/in  i/itiiri/  I'n'iin'. 

"(iraeiiins  Prinee  and  Lord;  'I'iie  kind  letter  id' your  nmst 
serene  liijihnes.s  of  Ajiril  IStii,  I  had  the  honor  of  receiving  hy 
tlu!  packet  the  latter  jiart  of  hist  month,  I  am  extremely  Horry 
that  your  liijilineHH  was  so  inn(di  disjdeased  at  the  return  of 
('olonel  Von  (lall.  I  hope  that  my  letter  id'  June  (ith  will 
excuse  my  havinji  heen  the  '^eeminj;  instrument  of  his  return 
by  havinj;  ohtained  I'or  him  the  rctjuired  permission  lor  that 
step. 

'■  Vour  highiu'ss  requests  me.  in  a  very  gracious  manner,  to 
send  you  a  report  of  the  conduct  of  Colonel  (lall,  and  also  an 
account  ol'  those  transactions  in  Canada,  hy  which  the  risgiment 
is  said  to  have  snfi'erod.  In  response  to  this  recjuest,  T  can 
only  say  that  all  orders  have  heen  invariably  obeyed  by  the 
troops  under  Colonel  V.  (Jail  in  the  most  faithful  manner;  and 
if  troubles  have  occasionally  occurred,  they  have  arisen  rather 
from  want  of  knowledge  of  our  situation,  or  by  fear,  perhaps, 
of  sacrificing  sonu!  of  the  national  prerogatives  td'  the  troops 
of  your  highness  than  from  other  reasons.  Such  cases  have 
always  been  speedily  arranged  whenever  Colonel  Von  (iall  has 
consulted  me.  ^'^ery  likely,  also,  (iall  has  not  always  considered 
it  to  be  for  the  interest  of  your  highness  to  follow  the  advice  of 
the  commander  of  another  nation. 

"  But  it  is  my  duty  to  bear  witness  to  the  good  intentions  of 
Colonel  Von  Gall  in  his  efforts  to  arrange  pecuniary  matters; 
and  although  differences  between  him  and  the  late  General 
]'hillips  occasionally  arose,  yet  by  my  and  the  latter's  explana- 
tions they  were  always  settled.  I  am  not  prepared  to  say  that 
Colonel  Gall  was  always  wrong  on  such  occasions,  but  his  de- 
mands were  at  times  not  in  accordance  with  the  situation  of 


/.\    TIIH  AMKllIVAN  JlKVOl.ri'litS. 


\m 


iiHiiir.M.  Kvcrvtliinj,',  Imwrvcr.  Iims  iiiviiriiilily  lu'cn  sotflcd  in 
an  luniciililo  niiinncr  ;  niid  (lull  parted  from  l'liilli]iM  iiiid  niyst'lf 
(in  tin!  licMt  of  terniH.  Not.  however,  to  !..■  too  Ien;:tliy  in  my 
imHwer.  I  mu.st  resiu'ctfully  ask  your  liifrliness  to  in((nire  further 
of  ('a]itiiin  V.  (Jeisiner.  wlio  in  iM-rfeetly  familiar  with  these 
transaetiouH,  and  who,  I  feol  confident,  will  confirm  tlmt  which 

I  have  here  written. 

"Ah  re«;ardH  tho  mnttcr  of  the  provisions  in  Canada,  the 
invcHtifration  of  which  was  committed  to  me  hy  (leneral  Sir 
(juy  Carleton  at  IJcrthier  in  that  province,  I  can  only  'j-ive  you 

II  correct  report  by  sondiuK  you  tho  documents.  Hut  as  Mk  v 
are  with  my  bajijjajre  in  Canada,  \  cannot  send  you  ,1  eompli  ic 
report  in  rejjard  to  tlu'  matter  until  my  arrival  in  said  pnivince. 
I  will  then  do  .so.  For  the  jiresent,  I  will  only  r  rk  that 
this  .affair  !"ipcars  to  be  very  di.sadvanta;,'eous  to  C(donel  Cail  ; 
and,  furtaoi,  I  may  say,  that  had  ary  one  other  than  iii^Sv  If 
invcHtif,'ated  this  matter,  it  would  have  turned  out  v  Ty  I'udly 
for  the  colonel ;  for  it  was  evident  tliat  the  provisions  had  bc'  >■, 
distributed  among  the  troops  at  a  smaller  weight  than  had  been 
ordered  by  General  Carleton,  and  that  the  inhabitants  com- 
plained at  being  obliged  to  provide  for  tlie  soldier.-  at  this  rate. 
]iut  when  1  consider,  on  the  other  liand,  that  one  and  a  lirdf 
ponnds  of  meat  and  one  and  a  half  pounds  of  bread  was  uku-o 
than  a  soldier  could  eat,  and  that  Gall  intended  to  accumulate 
a  regimental  fund  for  unforeseen  cases  —  such  as  fre{(uently 
occurred  among  the  Brunswick  troops  —  1  consider  liim  only 
to  blame  for  not  foreseeing  the  danger  which  was  connected 
with  this  act,  no  matter  how  good  was  liis  intention. 

'>  Upon  my  arriving  at  IJerthier  in  order  to  begin  tho  inves- 
tigation, it  looked  at  first  as  if  the  colonel  intended  to  deny  the 
matter.  Seeing,  however,  that  I  commenced  the  investigation 
in  an  earnest,  but  impartial  spirit,  he  confes.sed  the  truth,  and 
stated  the  cause  which  led  him  to  act  in  this  manner.  From 
that  moment  I  changed  the  whole  course  of  the  investigation, 
and  advised  the  inhabitants  to  compromise  the  matter.     Cap- 


'i!| 


mm 


}f 


\\ 


104 


MAJOB  GENERAL  HIEDESEL 


tain  Geismar  assisted  Colonel  Gall  in  fully  satisfying  the  inha- 
bitants. The  latter  appeared  before  the  authorities  and  took 
back  their  complaints,  saying,  that  they  were  satisfied;  and 
some  even  went  so  far  as  to  ask  the  forgiveness  of  Colonel  Gall 
for  having  lodged  complaints  against  him  with  the  commanding 
generals.  Thus,  the  affair  was  settled.  My  report  was  sent  to 
the  commanding  general  without  the  minutes  of  the  investiga- 
tion, and  he  expressed  himself  perfectly  satisfied  with  the  result 
of  the  commission.  T  have  never  cared  to  ascertain  the  amount 
paid  to  the  inhabitants.  Colonel  Von  Gall  will  doubtless  be 
able  to  furnish  your  highness  with  the  most  satisfactory  expla- 
nations regarding  his  conduct,  of  which  nothing  can  be  learned 
from  the  documents  themselves. 

"  I  here  state  to  your  highness  that  Admiral  Graves  has  at 
last  concluded  to  convey  us  to  Canada.  Tlie  troops  will  be 
emb<fi"ked  day  after  to-morrow,  and  I  hope  we  shall  sail  before 
the  end  of  this  month.  As  soon  as  I  arrive  in  Canada,  I  shall 
again  report  regarding  this  matter  to  your  highness. 

"  The  commanding  general.  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  has  commu- 
nicated to  me  an  order  from  your  highness,  addressed  to  all 
captured  officers,  commanding  them  to  embark  for  Canada  at 
the  first  possible  moment,  and  cautioning  them  against  return- 
ing to  Germany  without  permission.  Being  unable  to  do  any- 
thing more  toward  the  execution  of  this  order,  on  account  of 
my  departure,  I  shall  rccjuest  Lieutenant  General  Von  Knyp- 
hausen  to  inform  the  troops  of  your  highness  arriving  here  of 
your  wishes. 

"  Hoping  to  enjoy  a  continuance  of  your  favor, 
"  I  remain,  your  highness's  devoted  and 
"  obedient  servant, 

"  RiEDKSEL,  Major  General. 

"  Brooklyn,  July  19,  1781." 


We  may  state  in  explanation  of  the  above  letter,  that  this 
investigation  took  place  while  the  troops  were  yet  in  Canada. 


F 


IX  THE  AMEltlVAN  It  EVOLUTION. 


105 


The  soldiers  were  those  mostly  quartered  on  the  inhabitants,  to 
whom  they  sold  their  rations,  and  by  whom  they  were  boarded 
in  exchange.  The  soldiers  were  also  furnished  with  rice,  flour 
and  other  articles;  and  the  inhabitants,  having,  in  ('olonel  Gall's 
opinion,  the  advantage,  he  desired  to  turn  the  scale  in  favor  of 
his  men  by  cutting  down  those  rations  which  the  inhabitants 
received  from  the  soldiers,  hoping  to  turn  the  surplus  into 
money  out  of  which  a  fund  could  be  created  for  tlie  benefit  of 
the  men  in  unforeseen  emergencies.  Colonel  Gall  had  taken  this 
idea  from  the  Brunswicke»"s.  who  had  a  reserve  fund  of  this 
nature  made  up  by  the  monthly  contributions  of  the  men,  a 
small  amount  being  deducted  from  their  regular  monthly  pay. 
Economy  was  at  that  time  an  especial  characteristic  of  the 
Brunswick  troops ;  and  in  their  order  and  excellent  self-control 
the  soldiers  of  that  period  set  an  example  to  the  ones  of  the 
present  day.  Riedcsel  paid  particular  attention  to  the  adnunis- 
tration  of  the  finances,  always  keeping  a  strict  watch  over  the 
welfare  of  his  men. 

This  afiiiir  of  Colonel  Gall  attracted  great  attention,  not  only 
in  Ilessia,  but  throughout  Germany.  It  was  even  discussed  in 
the  public  journals.  The  philanthropical  howlers  who  were 
grumbling  so  continually  about  "  soul  selling,"  sought  to  make 
capital  of  this  case  for  their  side  by  expatiating  upon  the  dread- 
ful way  in  which  the  poor  soldiers  were  treated,  by  being  cut 
down  in  everything.  The  compiler  of  this  work  has,  therefore, 
considered  it  his  duty  to  quote  the  documents  referring  to  this 
case,  in  order  to  remove  all  stain  from  the  name  of  so  merito- 
rious and  honorable  an  ofliccr,  and  also  again  to  show  how  well 
the  German  troops  were  cared  for. 

At  length,  the  English  admiral  furnished  the  necessary  num- 
ber of  ships  for  the  voyage  to  Canada.  On  the  22d  of  July, 
General  Riedesel,  with  his  family  and  suit  went  on  board  of  the 
transport  Little  Deal,  in  which  they  were  to  make  the  journey. 
Although  they  were  very  desirous  to  start  for  (>anada,  the 
parting  from  so  many  of  their  friends,  who  had  shown  them 


il 


rrr 


106 


MAJOR  UENEliAL  ItlEDESEL 


such  great  kindness,  and  to  whom  they  were  warmly  attached, 
was  very  sad.  Tlie  English  government,  also,  had  acted  nobly 
toward  them  up  to  the  last  moment ;  for  the  general  was  solicited 
to  take  with  him  all  of  the  costly  furniture  it  had  given  him, 
for  his  house  in  Canada.  Nor  would  the  authorities  take  back 
the  wood  which  was  left  of  what  they  had  furnished  him.  This 
amounted  to  about  thirty  cords,  and  was  of  grout  value  at  this 
time.  Kilt  the  German  general  was  not  the  man  to  put  himself 
under  obligations  to  others  if  he  could  avoid  it.  He,  therefore, 
sent  the  furniture  to  the  magazine,  and  distributed  the  wood 
among  some  needy  families,  whose  blessings  followed  him  on  his 
departure. 

General  Clinton,  who  particularly  regretted  the  departure  of 
this  German  family,  and,  therefore,  desired  to  make  their 
voyage  as  pleasant  and  comfortable  as  possible,  himself  arranged 
the  details  of  their  journey.  He  sent  for  the  agent  of  the  ship, 
and  especially  enjoined  him  to  select  for  their  use,  the  best 
sailing  vessel,  and  accompany  the  travelers  himself.  The  latter 
was  rich  in  promises,  but  the  result  soon  showed  that  Clinton 
had  not  been  very  fortunate  in  the  selection  of  his  man.  The 
vessel  was  a  very  poor  one,  and  the  captain  an  exceedingly 
ignorant  and  uncouth  fellow,  who  grew  more  discourteous  the 
further  he  got  from  New  York.  In  consequence  of  a  contrary 
wind,  the  ship  was  forced  to  remain  at  anchor  eight  days  near 
the  city ;  and  when  the  flotilla  finally  got  under  way  it  was 
discovered  that  the  vessel,  containing  Kiedesel  and  family,  was 
the  poorest  one  of  all.  It  was  a  poor  sailer,  and  actually  had 
to  be  towed  by  one  of  her  consorts.  Neither  were  there  men 
enough  on  this  vessel  to  man  her  properly,  and  she  was  conse- 
quently often  in  danger  of  being  capsized  by  gales  of  wind.  In 
addition  to  all  this,  the  ship  sprang  a  leak  thus  compelling  the 
pumps  to  be  constantly  worked.  A  hostile  attack  was,  moreover, 
continually  to  be  feared ;  and  had  such  an  event  occurred  and  the 
flotilla  been  compelled  to  flee,  the  ship,  on  which  was  the  gene- 
ral, would  undoubtedly  have  been  the  first  one  to  fall  into  the 


IN  THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION. 


107 


hands  of  the  enemy.  And  as  a  climax  to  tlie  whole  the  agent, 
who  by  the  orders  of  Clinton  accompanied  the  travelers,  and 
whose  expenses  were  paid  by  them,  was  a  very  nnploasant  and 
uneducated  man.  Indeed  he  was  more  of  a  burden  than  a 
help,  and  rendered  himself  exceedingly  disagreeable  during  the 
entire  passage. 

The  flotilla  encountered  difficulties  of  all  kinds.  Madam 
Riedesel  was  taken  ill ;  and  the  general  ill  health  of  her  husband 
was  greatly  increased  by  the  voyage.  The  fleet  put  in  for  a 
little  while  at  Halifax.  General  lliedesel  and  family  went  on 
shore  and  paid  a  visit  to  the  governor,  who  received  them  in  a 
most  friendly  manner,  and  invited  them  to  dinner.  This  atten- 
tion they  accepted;  and  the  next  day,  they  were  taken  by 
their  host  all  over  the  city  and  island  and  shown  everything 
that  wiis  worth  seeing. 

From  Halifax  the  voyage  was  stormy,  but  the  mouth  of  the 
St.  Lawrence  was  reached  without  accident.  Before  reachins 
Quebec,  the  general  issued  the  following  order  to  the  German 
troops  in  Canada,  and  sent  it  in  advance  by  his  adjutant : 


"  On  Board  the  Little  Deal,  before 
Quebec,  Sq)tember  10,  1781. 

"  Major  General  Von  Riedesel  announces  to  the  Brunswick 
troops  in  Canada,  his  arrival  in  the  province  after  an  absence 
of  four  years  —  a  period  spent  in  misery,  chagrin  and  all  pos- 
sible discomfort.  He  has  left  the  rest  of  the  captured  troops 
in  this  sad  condition,  and  without  the  least  hope  of  a  speedy 
liberation.  The  general  feels  intense  joy  at  the  near  prospect 
of  once  more  seeing  those  troops  whom  at  all  times  he  has  con- 
sidered his  friends ;  and  he  is  confident  of  finding  among  them 
the  same  willingness,  punctuality  and  zeal  in  the  service  which 
they  have  shown  of  old.  He  will  consider  it  a  real  pleasure  if 
he  can  do  anything  for  the  welfare  or  pleasure  of  the  troops, 
either  as  a  body  or  as  individuals. 

"  For  the  present  and  until  further  orders,  all  reports,  lists, 
14* 


«ilil 


.! 


"M 

5 


108 


M A.J  oil  a  EN K HAL  IIIKDKSEL 


applications,  etc.,  are  to  be  sent  to  Brigadier  General  Von  Speclit, 
until  the  <icneral  is  more  acquainted  with  the  circumstances,  and 
until  the  duration  of  his  stay  and  his  future  destination  is  known 
to  him. 

"  lliEUESKii,  Major  General." 


Upon  his  arrival  in  Quebec,  lliedesel  called  first  upon  the 
governor.  General  Ifaldimand,  to  report  himself.  He  was 
received  in  an  extremely  cordial  and  friendly  manner. 

General  Ilaldimand  had  been  described  to  Riedescl  as  a 
sour  looking'  and  morose  man,  and  of  a  very  unsocial  disposition. 
The  latter,  however,  was  too  much  of  an  adept  in  human  nature 
to  allow  such  reports  to  prejudice  his  estimate  of  any  man.  At 
the  first  interview,  therefore,  he  met  Haldimand  openly ;  and 
the  latter,  who  was  in  truth,  somewhat  morose,  soon  grew  more 
friendly  and  talkative  until  the  two  generals  finally  parted,  each 
well  pleased  with  the  other. 

General  Ilaldimand  had  little  intercourse  with  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Quebec.  He  lived  more  for  himself  and  the  company 
of  his  oflicers.  During  his  stay  of  four  years  he  had  refitted  the 
old  government  building  and  refurnished  it,  so  that  lliedesel 
found  it  a  palace  in  comparison  with  what  it  had  been  formerly. 
The  most  beautiful  gardens  now  surrounded  it,  filled  with  choice 
fruit  trees.  The  building  itself  was  also  most  splendidly  situated 
upon  an  eminence  from  which  there  was  a  charming  view. 

lliedesel  tarried  only  long  enough  in  Quebec  to  rest  himself 
from  the  fatigues  of  the  voyage.  He  then  accompanied  Ilaldi- 
mand to  Sorel  (he  was  to  assume  command)  leaving,  meanwhile, 
Mrs.  lliedesel  and  the  children  for  the  present  at  Quebec.  The 
governor  expressed  his  sorrow  at  being  unable  to  give  him  a 
suitable  house  in  Sorel  where  at  the  best  he  would  suffer  from 
the  want  of  many  comforts;  'but,"  continued  he,  "it  is  a  very 
important  post,  and  I  wished  it  intrusted  to  you."  Haldimand, 
however,  did  the  best  he  could  for  the  German  general's  com- 
fort.    He  bought  a  house  there  that  happened  to  be  in  course 


m 


l.\  THE  AMEJIICAN  REVOLUTION. 


109 


of  construction,  with  the  understanding  that  it  should  be  finished 
by  Christmas. 

Sorel,  next  to  Montreal,  was,  undoubtedly,  the  most  import- 
ant place  in  Canada.  Here  emptied  the  upper  St.  Lawrence 
and  the  Chambly  river  (Richelieu)  and  the  Lake  St.  Pierre. 
Sorel  was  the  key  to  the  latter  river  and  Lake  Champlain. 
Further  to  the  east  the  Yamaska  emptied  into  the  latter  lake  so 
that  Sorel  in  fact  held  the  estuaries  of  three  rivers.  The  hold- 
ing of  the  fort  at  this  place  was  thus  of  the  greatest  importance 
to  the  royal  troops.  Riedcsel  visited  the  quarters  of  the  Ger- 
man soldiers ;  and  having  ascertained  their  position  and  strength, 
entered  at  once  upon  the  Avork  of  organization. 

The  first  thing  he  did  was  to  form  his  troops  in  the  follow- 
ing manner  :  The  grenadiers  —  there  not  being  a  suflBcient  num- 
ber of  these  to  form  a  battalion  —  were  divided  into  companies 
and  distributed  among  the  infantry  regiments.  Of  these,  the 
regiment  of  Rhetz  was  the  weakest,  and  therefore  received,  in 
addition  to  the  company  of  grenadiers,  one  company  from  the 
regiment  of  Prince  Frederick.  The  companies  were  now  not 
more  than  half  as  strong  as  formerly,  and  there  being  also  a 
lack  of  officers,  each  company  received  only  one  sergeant  who 
commanded  it,  one  quarter  master,  one  vnptain  iVarmcs.,  and 
three  corporals.  But  even  with  this  arrangement,  there  was 
still  a  great  deficiency  in  officers,  which  had  to  be  made  up  by 
exempts  at  times  performing  the  duties  of  vice-corporals,  for 
which  service  they  received  additional  pay.  The  grenadier 
regiment  was  still  weaker,  for  it  had  even  fewer  noncommis- 
sioned officers  to  each  company,  viz :  one  sergeant,  one  noncom- 
missioned officer  who  performed  the  duties  of  quarter  master 
and  took  the  place  of  a  cdptahi  d'lirmvs,  and  two  corporals. 
The  subaltern  officers  were  also  equally  distributed  among  the 
companies.  The  commanders  of  regiments  were  apportioned  as 
follows  :  1st,  The  regiment  of  dragoons.  Captain  of  Cavalry  Von 
Schlagenteuffel,  Sen.:  2d.  Regiment  of  Prince  Frederick,  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  Praetorius :  3d.  Regiment  Von  Rhetz,  Lieutenant 


m 
k 

IS* 


4' 


mm 


w 

I*  , 


110 


MAJOR  OENKRAL  ItlKDEHEL 


Colonel  Von  Ehronkrook :  4tli.  Kcfiiiiicnt  Von  RiodcHcl,  Licu- 
toniint  (\iloiiol  Von  Hills:  Sth.  Ileginiont  A^)n  Spcclit,  Major 
Von  liucko :  (ith.  Jiij^lit  infantry  battalion,  liieiitonunt  Colonel 
Von  IJarner.' 

The  troops  in  Canada  were  diatribnteil  in  their  various  winter 
(juarter.s,  by  a  jieneral  order  of  Haldiniand,  dated  October  8th, 
17S1,  in  the  followinj^-  manner: 

Lst.  The  troops,  under  Major  General  Clark,  were  stationed 
at  Quebec,  on  the  Island  Orleans,  between  St.  Paul's  bay  and 
Maehiche,  on  the  north  side,  and  from  Caniaraska  as  far  as 
Ijake  St.  I'aul  on  the  south  side  of  the  St.  Lawrence. 

2d.  The  troops,  under  Major  General  Von  lliedesel,  occupied 
the  space  from  Bacancourt  to  Point  au  Fer  on  the  north  side  of 
Lake  Chanipluin,  and  from  La  Prairie  to  Sorel. 

3d.  The  troops,  under  lirigadier  General  Von  Speth,  with 
the  exception  of  those  at  the  south  side  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 
were  at  Montreal  and  3lachiche,  and  on  the  north  side  of  Cote 
au  de  Ijac  as  far  as  lia  Prairie. 

4th.  The  Canadian  Indians  were  under  the  command  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Campbell,  and  the  Mohawks  under  Colonel 
Claus.'- 

5th.  The  command  of  the  fleet  oii  Lake  Champlain  was  given 
to  Captain  Chambers. 

After  all  these  apporti<tnnientshadbeen  accomplished.  General 
lliedesel  went  on  a  tour  of  inspection  among  the  diflerent  bodies 
of  his  troops. 

Tn  November  he  again  traveled  over  his  district ;  and  on  his 
return,  the  1st  of  December,  he  wrote  General  Haldiniand  from 
Sorel,  the  following  letter  : 

(Private). 

"  Sir  :  By  the  accompanying  report,  your  excellency  will  see 
that  T  have  returned  from  visiting  my  district.     By  it  you  will 


1  The  general  order  in  regard  to  this,  is  dated  at  (inebcc,  October  SO,  1781. 
»  Colonel  Daniel  ClauB ;  son-in-law  and  nephew  of  Sir  William  Johnson, 


/.V  77/A'  AMEJilCAN  liEVOLVTloy. 


Ill 


also  bo  inforinocl  of  the  workinj^'s  of  the  different  onlei-H  I  have 
i.s8ued  from  time  to  time.  I  selected  a  poor  time  for  my  journey 
(the  HOtli  of  November  and  the  1st  of  December).  I  liad  terri- 
ble weather;  and  I  was  five  hours  on  tlio  road  between  La 
Prairie  and  the  traverse  of  Lon{;;ucil,  a  distance  of  two  and  a 
half  leagues.  I  did  not  meet  (Jolonel  St.  Leger.  He  had  gone 
on  private  business  from  St.  John  to  Montreal ;  but  (japtain 
Forbes,  bein>,'  a  very  intelligent  officer,  T  have  arranged  every- 
thing with  him  as  well  as  if  I  had  seen  the  colonel.  I  was 
ready  both  on  Wednesday  and  the  day  following  to  go  to 
Quebec,  but  the  letter  of  your  excellency  of  the  29th,  makes  it 
necessary  for  me  to  remain  here,  until  I  have  received  from  you 
further  orders. 

"Your  excellency  will  remember  that  Sir  Henry,'  on  my 
departure  from  New  York,  expected  Count  de  Grasse  with 
fifteen  or  twenty  thousand  men,  who  was  to  unite  with  General 
Washington  and  Count  Rochambeau  in  an  attack  on  that  city. 
At  that  time  Sir  Henry  had  not  more  than  eleven  thousand 
men.  Nevertheless,  he  requested  me  to  tell  your  excellency 
that  he  had  no  fears  for  New  York,  but,  on  the  contrary,  was 
ready  to  meet  the  enemy. .  At  present  he  has  a  fleet  of  twenty- 
two  ships  of  the  lino,  twenty-five  hundred  more  German  troops, 
and  three  additional  Knglish  regiments.  The  enemy  have  only 
twenty-four  ships  ;  and  the  number  of  land  troops,  brought  by 
De  Grasse,  do  not  amount  in  all  probability  to  more  than  four 
thousand,  a  largo  part  of  whom  have  returned  to  the  island. 
Thus  the  situation  of  Sir  Henry  is  much  better  now  than  it  was 
at  the  time  of  my  departure.  These,  your  excellency,  are  the 
grounds  upon  which  I  base  my  hope  that  the  enemy  are  in  no 
position  to  undertake  anything  successfully  against  New  York, 
and  that  a  great  many  of  them  will  be  punished  for  their  auda- 
city. Your  excellency  is  acquainted  with  the  situation  of  New 
York.     If  the  enemy  intend  attacking  it,  it  will  be  neces.sary 


'  Clinton. 


1%' 


Mh 


112 


MAJOli  OENSRAL  JilKUESEh 


for  thciu  cither  to  take  KiiigsbridjiC  —  at  present  an  extremely 
well  fortified  place  both  by  nature  and  by  art  —  or  divide  their 
troops  into  Hcvoral  corps  and  attack  Long  island,  Staten  island 
and  Paul's  hook.  Tn  the  first  case  a  fiircc  of  18,000  men  will 
be  necessary  to  undertake  the  attack  on  King's  bridge,  besides 
a  second  force  for  the  position  of  ^MacCowen's  pass  which  is  still 
better  fortified.  In  the  second  case,  if  the  forces  are  divided  it 
will  give  Sir  Henry  a  favorable  opportunity  to  meet  them 
singly,  an  easy  matter,  since  we  have  the  necessary  number  of 
small  vessels  to  convey  our  men  to  a  place  which  it  would  take 
the  enemy  two  or  three  days  to  reach  by  land.  If  the  rumor 
is  true  that  the  enemy  intend  to  attack  New  York,  I  believe 
that  your  excellency  will  have  in  a  short  time,  intelligence 
which  will,  in  some  degree,  counterbalance  the  misfortunes  in 
Virginia. 

"  Madam  Riedescl  feels  very  much  flattered  at  your  remem- 
brance of  her.  and  sends  her  best  respects.  The  inclement 
season  of  the  year  retards  operations  on  our  house,  but  I  hope 
we  will  be  able  to  move  into  it  at  the  end  of  two  weeks.  It 
will  give  Madam  lliedesel  much  joy  to  furnish  a  room  for  you 
iu  our  house,  and  nothing  will  give  us  more  pleasure  than  to 
have  you  as  our  guest. 

"  Next  Monday  I  shall  go  to  Yamaska  and  St  Francois,  to 
arrange  the  new  quarters  of  the  men.  Should  those  two  places 
be  too  full,  I  shall  report,  on  my  return,  to  your  excellency. 

"  I  have  the  honor,  etc., 

"  RiEDESKL,  Major  General. 

"  Sorel,  December  3,  1781." 


And  in  his  report  to  which  he  alludes  in  this  letter  under 
the  same  date,  Riedescl  says  :  "  Day  before  yesterday,  the  first 
of  the  month,  I  returned  from  visiting  my  district.  The  44th 
Regiment  had  just  gone  into  winter  quarters,  one  company 
having  been  sent  to  the  parish  of  Point  Olivier  where  I  spent 
the  night.     I   have  instructed  the  commanding  officer  to  pay 


IN  THE  AM  Hit  It' AN  ItKVOLUTION. 


118 


special  attention  to  the  inhabitants,  and  to  see  to  it  tluit  no 
stranger  comes  within  the  parish  without  his  knowledge ;  and, 
further,  that  none  of  the  inhabitants  stay  away  iVoni  here  with- 
out his  being  informed  of  it.  The  officer  has  promised  me  to 
attend  not  only  to  this,  but  to  the  guarding  of  his  district. 

"  The  fleet  of  Conmiodorc  Chambers,  I  have  found  in  a  good 
position.  The  Koyal  George,  the  Tnflexible,  and  the  l^ady  3Iary 
protect  one  another  by  the  direction  of  their  guns,  at  the  same 
time  that  they  cover  the  sides  of  the  fort.  Each  of  the  three 
large  .ships  is  surrounded  by  palisades  erected  on  a  wall  of 
snow  J  while  a  line  of  the  same  material  covers  all  the  other 
vessels  which,  according  to  their  size,  are  so  posted  that  it  will 
be  ill-possible  to  attack  them  without  a  large  number  of  guns, 
ani  still  more  impossible  to  approach  sufficiently  near  to  set  fire 
io  them.' 

"  The  fortifications  of  St."  John  are  still  in  the  same  condition 
in  which  your  excellency  found  them  last  fall,  with  this  excep- 
tion, that  the  great  traverse,  which  runs  behind  the  fort,  is 
now  ten  feet  higher ;  but  the  heavy  frosts  hinder  the  completion 
of  the  work.  The  garrison  appear  very  watchful,  especially  at 
night.  In  the  Savanne  I  have  posted  one  noncommissioned 
officer  with  ten  men  from  the  regiment  of  Hesse  Ilauau  for  the 
purpose  of  keeping  a  strict  watch  on  the  inhabitants.  Thence 
I  went  to  the  prairie,  where  I  met  the  Hesse  Hanau  chasseurs, 
who  have  gone  into  winter  quarters  and  hold  the  parish  of 
Chateau  Gay.-  I  have  given  orders  to  Captain  Castcn  Byk,  in 
respect  to  the  conduct  of  the  inhabitants  —  desiring  him  to 
prevent  hostile  emissaries  coming  into  the  parish,  as  T  believe 
that  the  rebels  have  in  this  way  kept  up  their  correspondence 
with  the  disloyal  in  ^fontreal.  Captain  Casten  I)yk  appears 
to  me,  to  be  an  intelligent  officer,  and  I  hope  he  will  not  disap- 


•  Lnko  Clinniplnin  ntid  the  river  were  frozen,  tlnis  ronderinir  nn  attack  oanier. 
Tlic  Hhipw  had  been,  tliorelore,  drawn  out  on  to  tlic  land  and  fortified  in  tlie  al)ove 
named  manner. 

••i  Hence  tlie  name  Cliatauque,  wliieli  if  not  of  Indian  original  is  generally  siip- 
posod. 


wmrr 


I.  ^ 


114 


MAJOn  GKSKllAL  UIKDKHEL 


point  my  expectations.  On  my  return  I  visited  the  quarterH 
of  the  royalJHts,  both  at  Bcrffere  and  Canton-cocur.'  Major 
Nern  was  just  uiakiii}^  preparations  to  organize  these  troops 
anew. 

'■  Kverything  is  now  settled  in  the  district  with  which  your 
excellency  has  entrusted  me ;  and  I  hope  it  has  been  done 
nccordin}^  to  your  wishes.  The  regiment  Khetz  is  the  only 
one  that  has  not  yet  gone  into  its  quarters.  I  received  the 
command  of  your  excellency  to  give  this  regiment  orders  to 
march  on  the  22d  of  November;  but  the  rivers  Vamaska  and 
St.  Francois  having  in  the  meantime  partially  frozen  over,  and 
being,  therefore,  impassable,  I  ordered  it  to  march  on  the  north 
bank,  and  cross  the  great  river  near  Point  au  Lac.  The  regi- 
ment, accordingly,  marched  on  the  25th,  and  arrived  on  the 
28th,  at  Machise  and  Point  au  Lac;  but  the  river  being  no 
longer  passable,  the  regiment  remained,  on  the  29th,  this  side 
of  it.  (^ilonel  Carleton,  who  has  gone  to  Trois  Rivieres,  has 
promised  me  to  assist  this  regiment  over  the  river  if  it  is  a 
possible  thing,  but  if  it  is  not,  then  to  have  it  quartered,  with 
the  permission  of  the  inhabitants,  where  it  now  is,  until  the  ice 
is  sufficiently  firm  to  allow  of  its  crossing.  This,  however,  is  of 
no  consequence,  as  all  its  rations  are  drawn  from  Trois  Rivieres. 
After  considering  these  circumstances,  your  excellency,  will,  I 
am  sure,  give  me  credit  for  endeavoring  to  carry  out  your 
orders,  having  only  been  prevented  from  so  doing  by  the  sudden 
appearance  of  the  frost  and  cold. 

"The  detachment  of  Captain  Rippenhaus  crossed  the  Yam- 
aska  and  Francois  on  the  21st  and  22d.  I  doubt  not,  that  by 
this  time,  it  has  arrived  at  the  quarters  of  its  regiment. 

"  I  shall  visit  the  two  companies  of  Barner,  at  Yamaska  and 
Francois,  and  if  I  find  that  there  are  too  many  troops  in  the 
former  parish,  or  that  it  is  discommoded  by  the  company  which 


'  The  royalUts  were  a  corps  of  volunteers,  under  Major  Neriie,  and  conplsted 
clik'tly  of  EnKliflimen  and  Canadians. 


/.V  Tin:  AMKIllVAS  UKVOIMTIOS. 


\\h 


is  ill  garrison  iit  thnt  place,  I  will  endeavor  to  arrange  every- 
thing according  to  the  wislicH  of  your  excellency. 
"  I  have  the  honor,  etc., 

"ItlKDK.sKl-,  Major  (Jeneral." 


>reanwhile,  (ieneral  Kiedesel  had  anxiously  watched  the 
niovenients  of  Lord  CornwalllH  in  the  southern  provinces,  fitr 
upon  the  result  of  these  depended  the  weal  or  woe  of  the  cap- 
tured troops  in  Virginia.  If  that  general's  operations  were 
successful,  the  (Icrnians  would  he  iinniediatoly  liberated  ;  if  not, 
no  one  could  tell  how  long  they  would  renniin  in  misery.  Hied- 
esel  was,  at  this  time,  therefore,  in  constant  communicatiim 
with  Cornwallis,  and  followed  his  every  stop  with  intense  in- 
terest. In  a  letter  to  the  hitter,  he  congratulates  him  upon  his 
victories,  especially  those  near  Camden  (August  25th,  1780), 
near  Guildford  over  Green  (March  15th,  17H1),  and  the  one 
near  Jamestown  over  Jjafayette  (July  iJth,  1781).  In  conse- 
quence of  these  successful  engagements,  he  expected  without 
doubt,  the  complete  subjugation  of  Virginia.  But  events  sud- 
denly took  an  unexpected  turn.  Washington,  with  a  view  of 
preventing  Cornwallis  from  being  supported,  succeeded,  by 
spreading  rumors,  in  making  Clinton  fearful  of  an  attack  on 
New  York  —  than  which,  however,  nothing  was  at  that  time 
further  from  the  intentions  of  the  Americans.  The  American 
commander  also,  was  successful  shortly  after  in  cutting  off  the 
communications  of  Cornwallis  with  Clinton,  and  forcing  the 
former  to  surrender  at  Yorktown,  on  the  IKtli  of  October,  with 
6,000  prisoners.  When  Kiedesel  received  the  first  intelligenco 
of  this  disaster,  he  could  not  credit  it.  lie  considered  it  im- 
possible for  such  a  misfortune  to  happen  to  so  brave  a  ciu'ps 
under  so  talented  a  leader.  But  when  the  rumor  was  contirnied, 
he  gave  up  all  hope ;  for  now  nothing  could  be  expected  from 
such  an  arrogant  foe,  but  more  severe  and  brutal  treatment  of 
the  captured  troops. 

IJut  besides  the   loss  of  so  many  brave  troops,  the  British 
15* 


no 


MA./O/l  (IKS HUM.  IIIKUKSKI. 


wort!  now  reiitlcrcd  iitUirly  piiwcrlcMH  to  coiicoiitrnto  tlu^r  ro- 
iiminiiiji,  forces.  ( Hl'tiiisivo  inoiiHiiri's  were  (ifcoiirHo  almiidiiiioj. 
Tlioy  woro  tloiii};  woll  to  prcservo  tliu  few  iiiun  that  wuri!  left  to 
tlioiii.  Tlic  Auiorinins,  on  the  eontrary,  iiicrea.secl  rapidly  in 
confidenco  and  nuniberH.  A  eriHis  had  eviihuitly  been  reaclied 
on  tlie  eventful  day  of  October  the  llttli.  The  fortnneH  of  the 
contondinj;'  parties  were  tluMi  and  there  decided. 

According  to  a  report,  carefully  prepared  by  Cajttain  Clove, 
the  strength  of  the  Hrunswick  troops  in  America,  on  the  l8t  of 

December,  1781,  was  as  follows : 

Men. 

In  Canada, 2,520 

Iniprisont'd  in  Virginia, l,or(;{ 

Other  ))risoiU'rH !{2r) 

Total !i,8))8 

Up  to  this  time  405  men  had  been  lost,  in  killed  and  d(^ser- 
tions.  The  troops  in  Canada  were  greatly  in  need  of  commis- 
sioned and  noncommissioned  officers,  there  being  only  74  of  the 
former  with  the  regiments. 

From  the  letters  of  lliedcsol  already  quoced,  it  has  been  seen 
that  he  paid  as  much  attention  to  the  enemy  within  his  district 
as  without.  And  he  had  certainly  good  reasons  for  his  conduct. 
It  was  evident  that  the  Americans  spared  no  effort  to  revolu- 
tiynize  those  northern  provinces,  that  had  hitherto  remained 
faithful  to  the  English.  There  were,  however,  a  few  in  those 
provinces  who  at  heart  sympathized  with  the  American  cause, 
while  apparently  they  were  good  royalists.  Moreover,  since 
the  turn  affairs  had  taken  in  the  south,  there  was  a  still  greater 
necessity  for  caution.  Immediately  after  the  capitulation  of 
Cornwallis,  printed  placards  were  distributed  among  the  inha- 
bitants of  Canada,  which  stated  plainly  that  the  dominion  of 
the  English  was  now  at  an  end.  Hence,  at  any  moment  the 
spark  hidden  in  the  ashes  might  break  out  into  a  flame.  IJoth 
llaldimand  and  Riedesel  exerted  every  efiort  to  destroy  and 
suppress  these  incendiary  placards,  and  prevent  the  standard  of 


/.V  TIIK  AMKlilVAN  HKVOLVTIOX. 


117 


ruliollioii  bciii;,'  niiMod.  Ot'tluH  liitttT  cvt'iit,  liowovcr,  tlicrc  wan 
not  iiMicli  t'l'iir,  iiH  ('iiiiatlii,  in  eniiipariMDii  witli  tlic  soiitlicni 
jiroviticcM,  was  thinly  iiopiilattul,  and  its  cities,  with  the  excc])- 

tiiin  of  Quchisc,  sjiarscly   pcnplcd,      Hnt    tiio    Anu'ricai ni- 

inandurs  woro  now  froo  t(i  "iiiTatc  apiinst  tlu!  Udrthcrn  ciiuntrics. 
A  hirgur  diHtrict  was  thiiroloro  y(\\v\\  to  Hiedcsol.  His  cuni- 
inand  included  the  garrisons  of  the  most  important  forts  between 
tile  St.  Lawrence  and  the  Hiehelien,  and  from  .Montreal  to  I'oint 
HU  Ker  as  far  up  as  Sorel  on  liake  St.  I'ierrc.  Notwithstanding; 
the  severity  of  the  winter  and  his  ill  health.  Iliedesel  was  always 
"  on  the  f^o."  This  continual  activity  was  necessary  to  keep 
the  troops  ■  uiMtantly  on  the  alert,  and  tu  I'lrward  as  rapidly  as 
possible  th<  ork;)  around  the  forts.  He  also  built  several  strong; 
lo^  block  houses  in  different  places.  In  all  this  ho  was  ubly 
Boeomled  by  (General  llaldimund. 

As  before  stated,  the  j^enoruls  were  nblij,'ed  to  maintain  a 
strict  watch  over  the  inhabitants.  They  were  therefore  forced 
to  employ  measures  to  which  they  would  have  objected  in  less 
critical  times. 

A  regular  system  of  espionage  was  now  introduced,  that  the 
innocent  might  not  suffer  with  the  guilty.  Flaldimand  accord- 
ingly i.ssued  orders  to  the  higher  grades  of  officers,  that  lists 
of  all  the  inhiibitants  slujuld  be  secretly  made  out,  givif  beside 
the  name,  the  political  leanings  of  individuals.  Those  who  were 
in  any  way  suspected,  were  particularly  watched.  This  work  was 
intrusted  to  noncommissioned  officers  and  privates.  IJe.sides  this, 
there  were  spies  who  sneaked  about  villages  minding  every  one's 
business  but  their  own.  As  a  result  of  this  system  of  spying, 
the  prisons  in  the  fortified  towns  were  filled  in  a  short  time. 
Among  other  things,  Ilaldimand  writes  to  Riede.sel  the  follow- 
ing :  "  I  fear  that  there  are  too  many  of  these  kind  of  people  in 
this  province ;  and  as  there  is  a  great  lack  of  room  to  keep  the 
prisoners,  I  desire  that  no  more  persons  be  arrested,  unless  there 
is  a  well  founded  su.spicioii  against  them." 

The  loyal  inhabitants  of  those  provinces  held  by  the  enemy, 


1i  , 


118 


MAJOIi  OENEIiAL  RIEVESBL 


considered  Canada  or  New  York  city  as  tbc  only  safe  place  of 
refuge.  Many  left  all  their  valuables  behind  them  to  escape 
the  abuse  of  the  rough  militia,  and  if  they  had  been  too  out- 
spoken they  fled  for  their  lives.  Such  fugitives  were  received 
by  the  government  in  the  most  friendly  manner.  They  were 
assisted  and  often  had  money  advanced  to  them  in  case  of  need. 
The  connnanders  of  the  difl'crent  districts  were  obliged  to  keep 
lists  of  all  such  refugees  as  well  as  of  those  who  were  suspected. 
This  was  necessary,  so  great  was  the  fear  that  every  stranger 
might  be  an  emissary  of  the  enemy  or  a  secret  spy. 


1782. 

General  Riedesel  with  his  family  moved  into  the  new  house  a 
few  days  before  Christmas.  It  had  been  carefully  prepared  for 
his  reception  by  his  thrifty  wife.  Some  English  officers,  who 
had  been  invited  in,  helped  the  German  family  to  celebrate  the 
holidays  which  were  thus  observed  partly  in  the  English  and 
partly  in  the  German  manner.  Under  the  illuminated  Christ- 
mas tree,  was  placed  the  Christmas  pie,  an  article  inseparable 
among  Englishmen  from  this  festivity.  The  house,  it  is  true, 
was  very  new ;  tlie  trees  of  which  it  had  been  built  having  stood 
in  the  woods  but  six  months  previously.  There  was,  however, 
in  this,  nothing  unusual,  as  the  Americans,  even  at  that  time, 
built  with  a  celerity  of  which  we  in  staid  old  Germany  have  no 
conception.  As  a  matter  of  course,  the  walls  were  very  thin ; 
and  it  often  happened  that  houses  constructed  in  such  a  hasty 
manner  were  blown  down  by  a  storm.  The  house,  occupied  by 
liiedesel  at  Sorel,  contained  a  dining,  a  sitting  and  a  bed  room 
for  the  general;  a  room  and  bed  room  for  his  wife;  and  a 
general  reception,  or  drawing  room.  On  the  upper  floor  were 
four  rooms,  two  of  which  were  occupied  by  the  servants.  Two 
covered  walks  led  from  the  house  to  the  kitchen  and  wash  house, 
the  guard  room  being  over  the  latter.  The  house  was  not  in  the 
village  of  Sorel  proper,  but  about  fifteen  minutes  walk  in  the 


I,  -f 


JN  THE  A31E1UVAN  REVOLUTION. 


119 


suburbs,  and  so  close  to  the  outposts  that  six  men  of  the  guard 
were  stationed  every  night  in  the  hall  to  act  as  sentinels. 

The  winter  was  severe :  the  show  was  deep ;  and  the  rivers 
and  lakes  were  frozen  so  hard  that  thoy  could  be  crossed  in  all 
directions.  This  circumstance  rendered  caution  additionally 
necessary ;  and  lliedesel  accordingly  visited  the  posts  and  forts 
even  more  frequently  than  usual.  He  generally  made  these 
visits  in  a  sleigh  accompanied  by  one  adjutant  and  a  servant. 
The  Canadian  driver  always  drove  very  fast ;  so  that  the  general 
got  over  much  ground  every  day. 

Riedesel  and  family  would  have  been  nearly  cut  oft"  from  all 
intercourse  with  the  outside  world,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
friendly  offices  of  General  Haldimand,  who  kept  them  informed 
by  letters  and  newspapers  of  all  the,  important  events  which 
occurred  both  in  Europe  and  in  America.  With  the  exception 
of  New  Holland,  this  war  was  carried-  on  in  all  parts  of  the 
world ;  for  where  did  not  the  two  most  powerful  nations  on  the 
water  have  possessions  an  i  comuiercial  interests  ?  Accordingly, 
we  find  General  Riedesel  carrying  on  an  extensive  correspond- 
ence with  the  most  influential  men  of  the  time  upon  those  topics 
which  filled  every  mind.  Space,  however,  will  not  permit  us  to 
quote  but  two  of  these  letters. 

General  Rikdesel  to  General  Haldimand. 
Letter  No.  I. 

"  I  thank  your  excellency  most  warmly  for  the  papers  which 
I  herewith  hive  the  honor  of  returning  to  you.  Like  your 
excellency,  I,  also,  take  great  interest  in  the  unhappy  events 
which  have  taken  place  during  the  last  year,  and  indeed,  are 
still  hanging  over  our  lusads.  I  am  as  much  interested  in  them 
as  if  they  had  occurred  in  my  own  fatherland.  Only  powerful 
alliances  or  a  miracle  can  make  good  our  losses.  I  fairly  believe 
that  Washington  and  Rochambeau  intend  marching  on  Canada, 
unless,  indeed,  the  French  minister  has  his  eyes  on  another  pro- 


if 


120 


MAJOH  GENEIiAL  lilEDESEL 


vincc  —  a  untttcr,  which  will  be  decided  in  a  few  months.  If 
the  army  of  your  excellency  falls  a  victim  to  our  misfortunes, 
your  arrangements  will  prevent  its  selling  itself  too  cheaply. 

"  No  one  has  conversed  with  me  in  relation  to  the  sad  fate  of 
Jidrd  (!ornwallis.  I  notice  that  everybody  is  careful  not  to 
allude  to  it  in  my  presence. 

"  KiEUESEL,  Major  General. 

"  St.  John,  February  25th,  1782." 


»  Sir 


Letter  No.  II. 
I  have  the  honor  of  thanking  your  excellency  for  the 


news  which  you  were  so  kind  as  to  send  mc,  and  which  is  even 
more  interesting  than  the  last.  It  seems  to  me  that  there  is  no 
doubt  that  Washington  and  Rochambeau  entertain  the  idea  of 
beginning  the  next  campaign  in  Canada.  I  am  convinced  of 
this  from  the  following  reasons  :  1st,  that  the  Frenchman  may 
no  longer  be  dependent  on  the  orders  of  Washington.  2d,  that 
he  may  separate  his  troops  from  those  of  the  rebels.  3d,  that 
he  may,  if  successful,  achieve  a  separate  conquest.  I  presume 
however,  that  this  expedition  will  not  be  undertaken  without 
the  consent  of  his  government.  Nevertheless,  the  prepa- 
I'ations  now  making,  indicate  a  very  earnest  attack.  One 
thing,  however,  appears  to  me  very  singular,  viz :  that  one 
report  states  that  the  French  troops  are  fortifying  themselves 
at  Yorktown  in  Virginia,  and  another  says  that  they  are  doing 
the  same  thing  at  Claverac  near  Albany.  I  very  much  doubt 
if  Rochambeau  would  thus  separate  his  men.  You  will,  also,  I 
trust,  pardon  me  if  I  suggest  that  two  good  emissaries  be  at  once 
sentdown  the  Connecticut  river  as  far  as  Hartford  and  Springfield, 
for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  what  arrangements  have  been 
made  by  the  enemy  on  the  shores  of  that  river,  and  whether 
there  are  any  French  troops  at  those  places.  Indeed,  I  should 
not  be  surprised  at  learning  that  the  head  quarters  of  Rocham- 
beau were  at  Hartford.  Washington's  head  quarters  being  on 
the  Hudson  and  his  army  in  that  vicinity,  I  take  it  for  granted 


JN  TIW  AMEIUCAN  liEVOLlITlON. 


121 


that  the  French  form  the  second  line  on  the  Hudson  as  far  as 
the  Connecticut,  and  that  the  enemy  are  awaiting  in  that  posi- 
tion further  orders  from  France. 

"  I  rejoice  with  all  my  heart  that  your  excellency  is  intend- 
ing to  visit  this  place  shortly ;  and  I  await  your  arrival  with 
the  greatest  impatience.  You  will  then  be  on  hand,  should 
the  enemy  undertake  anything ;  while  at  the  same  time,  your 
presence  will  encourage  the  loyal,  and  put  an  end  to  all  quarrels 
and  bickering. 

"General  Clark  leaves  me  to-morrow.  I  shall  accompany 
him  as  far  as  Kesancourt,  and  on  my  return,  inspect  the  regi- 
ment Khotz.  General  Clark  has  seen  all  that  he  came  to  see  ; 
and  if  he  has  a  military  memory,  may  have  acquired  a  general 
knowledge  of  the  country. 

"  I  have  the  honor,  etc., 

"  IliEDESEL,  Major  General. 
"  Sorel,  March  4,  1782." 


"  Keport. 

"  Sorel,  March  4,  1782. 
"  I  have  the  honor  of  reporting  to  your  excellency  that  I 
returned  with  General  Clark  from  St.  Johns  last  Friday,  the 
1st  of  this  month.  I  went  as  far  as  the  royal  log  block  house, 
where  I  met  Captain  Sherwood,  who  has  taken  every  measure 
in  his  power  to  guard  against  a  surprise.  The  situation  of  the 
block  house  is  very  good,  but  the  house  itself  far  from  it ;  and 
I  greatly  fear  that  in  case  of  an  attack,  it  would  not  hold  out 
long.  I  refer  you  here  to  the  report  of  Captain  Twiss,  which 
he  has  sent  in,  in  regard  to  this  matter.  It  is  very  difficult  to 
send  aid  to  this  place.  I  believe  Captain  Sherwood,  with  his 
capacity,  would  bo  apprised  of  an  intended  attack  sufficiently 
early ;  and  I  think  it  would  be  better  if  your  excellency  should 
allow  him  to  retreat  to  Point  au  Fer  with  his  men  —  if  he 
th(mght  it  best —  in  case  of  an  attack  by  superior  forces.     The 


122 


MAJOR  OENKltAL  RIEDESEL 


men  in  that  case  would  be  saved,  while  he  could  at  any  moment 
reoccupy  his  post  after  the  departure  of  the  enemy. 

"  The  post  at  Point  au  Fer,  I  have  found  so  well  defended 
that  1  am  convinced  the  enemy  cannot  take  it  without  artillery. 

"  While  1  was  sleeping  at  the  fort,  during  the  night  of  the 
26th,  the  small  north  block  house  burned  down.  The  fire 
was  caused  by  a  stove  that  was  out  of  repair.  The  fire  made 
such  rapid  progress  that  the  whole  building,  together  with 
the  wooden  fortification  this  side  of  it  was  soon  in  a  blaze ; 
and  had  it  not  been  for  the  extraordinary  exertions  of  the 
garrison  it  would  have  been  impossible  to  save  the  large  house. 
Within  the  space  of  three  hours,  the  latter  caught  fire  in  as  many 
dift'crent  places  ;  but  when  I  left  the  fort  at  six  A.  M.,  the  flames 
had  been  so  subdued  that  there  was  no  further  danger.  I  im- 
mediately sent  Lieutenant  Dovenet  from  the  Isle  aux  Noix  to 
estimate  the  damage  and  provide  means  to  repair  the  defenses. 
Your  excellency  will  see  by  the  accompanying  report  that  the 
damage  is  not  great,  and  that  in  a  few  days  the  place  will  be  in 
as  good  a  condition  as  ever. 

"  I  have  the  honor  of  inclosing  a  little  plan,  showing  the 
condition  of  the  fort  before  the  fire,  the  extent  of  the  damage, 
and  the  appearance  of  the  place  at  present. 

"  To-morrow  1  will  see  the  regiment  Rhetz,  and  afterwards 
the  regiment  Speth.  I  shall  then  be  able  to  inform  your 
excellency  of  the  distribution  of  the  troops  in  the  manner  di- 
rected by  you.  At  present,  I  can  only  say,  that,  omitting  the 
grenadier  companies  which  contain  a  large  number  of  old 
people,  one-fourth  of  our  men  are  over  forty  years  of  age.  T 
have  visited  the  34th  and  44th  regiments,  and  have  inquired 
of  each  man  his  age.  The  44th  has  about  eighty  men  who  are 
over  forty,  and  I  think  the  former  has  nearly  seventy  of  the 
same  kind  ;  so  that,  in  my  opinion  the  proportion  is  the  .same. 

"  I  received  your  orders  by  the  ofiicer  who  returned  to  the 
post  of  Captain  Sherwood,  and  have  rlispatchcd  in  all  haste  the 
necessary  instructions  to  Colonel  St.  Ijcdger  to  send  a  detach- 


AV  TIIK  AMERICAN  liEVOhVTlON. 


123 


uieiit  nt  oncv  tn  Crown  Point  and  destroy  the  gun  eavriiigcs  iit 
that  phice.  I  did  this  because  the  corps  of  Ruggers  is  already- 
very  niudi  weakened  by  the  sending  off  of  detaclunents,  and 
the  garrison  at  St.  John  Deeds  its  men  for  cutting  wood.  I 
trust  also  th  fou  will  approve  of  my  ordering  Major  Ycssop 
to  send  an  otticer  with  thirty  men  to  St.  John,  who  are  to  re- 
main there  until  the  detachnieiit  returns  from  Crown  Point. 

"  According  to  a  report  of  Sherwood,  the  province  of  Vermont 
intends  to  erect  three  block  houses  at  Castlet(jwn,  Pitts  and 
llutland,  which  are  to  )>e  armed  with  the  si.\  pounders  now  at 
Williamstown  and  Lensberg. 

"Day  after  to-morrow  I  shall  see  Captain  Schmid  and  consult 
with  liini  in  regard  to  keeping  a  detachment  on  the  ITorscn 
road  as  long  as  possible,  and  also  respecting  the  patrols  fr)ni 
the  Yamaska  block  house.  I  shall  give  orders  for  the  patrols 
to  act  with  the  greatest  caution. i 

"  I  have  the  honor,  etc., 

"  HlKDESKL,  Major  General." 


The  forces  in  Canada  were  evidently  too  weak  to  protect  such 
a  large  extent  of  country  against  a  powerful  attack.  This  was 
what  lliedesel  always  feared.  lie  believed  at  this  time,  that 
the  IJritish  would  be  driven  across  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  per- 
haps out  of  Canada,  (ileneral  Clinton  was  unable  t(j  send 
reenforcements.  as  he  needed  all  his  troops  for  the  defense  of 
New  York  and  vicinity.  The  generals  in  Canada,  were,  there- 
fore, obliged  to  depend  on  their  own  exertions  for  preservation. 
It  was  fortunate  that  they  harmonized  so  well  together,  as  in 
this  manrier  the  conquest  of  Canada  was  rendered  the  more 
difficult.  General  lliedesel  was,  accordingly,  very  active  the 
entire  winter,  keeping  up  the  work  on  the  forts.  Nothing, 
indeed,  was  now  thought  of,  but  to  act  on  the  defensive.     There 


'  Mrs.  RIcdesel,  also,  upoaks  of  the  drc  at  Point  an  Fur,  hut  makes  it  take  place 
in  the  full  of  1T82.  This  is  certainly  a  mistake,  for  the  report  of  Ueneral  Kictlesol 
1b  plainly  dated  March  4th.—  Note  in  oiiginal. 

16* 


124 


MAJOR  GENERAL  RIEDESEL 


were  in  tlie  district  under  llicdcHcl,  besides  the  rcginieiits 
already  named,  the  29th,  iUth  and  44th.  The  regiment  An- 
halt  Zerbst,  was  also  under  him  indirectly. 

In  historical  works  on  North  America,  wc  find  very  little 
regarding  the  course  of  events  in  (!anada  after  the  year  1777. 
Everything  naturally  remained  pretty  quiet,  for  the  war  was 
carried  on  chiefly  in  the  southern  provinces.  We  arc  sorry 
also,  that  what  did  occur,  cannot  be  given  in  regular  order. 
We  are  able  to  quote  only  a  few  documents  which  throw  light 
upon  events  at  this  time.  These  papers,  however,  are  authentic, 
and  will  be  of  undoubted  interest  to  the  historical  student. 

(Jeneral  Ilaldimand  seldom  received  direct  and  official  news 
from  the  theatre  of  war.  The  greater  part  of  his  information 
came  incidentally  and  through  his  spies.  General  Riedesel, 
also,  rarely  heard  from  the  prisoners  in  Virginia,  or  of  that 
which  was  going  on  in  that  province.  lie  was  only  able  to  get 
news  occasionally  by  way  of  New  York  and  Quebec,  but  this 
was  a  long  and  round  about  way. 

^leanwhile  the  battles  in  parliament,  at  London,  were  fully  as 
obstinate  as  on  the  continent  of  America.  There  were  victories 
and  defeats  on  the  floor  of  that  body,  according  to  the  respective 
strength  of  the  representatives  of  the  people,  and  the  ministry. 

The  opposition  were  for  peace;  the  ministry  for  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  war.  This  state  of  things  of  course  retarded 
operations,  the  bad  consequences  of  which  were  continually 
apparent,  lint  the  opposition  remained  in  the  majority,  and 
the  ministry  were,  therefore,  forced  to  resign.  General  Ilaldi- 
mand received  the  news  of  these  events  in  May,  and  wrote 
concerning  it  to  lliedesel,  as  follows  : 


(Private). 

"  Montreal,  Mai/  20,  1782. 
'•  Sir :  You  have  undoubtedly  learned  that  on  the  16th  of  this 
month,  a  ship  from  Liverpool  arrived  at  the  Bickos,  bringing 


JN  THE  AMEltlC'AN  REVOLUTION. 


125 


news  f)f  a  total  elian}j;c  in  the  iniiiiHtry.  I  have  no  official 
communications,  but  have  received  a  private  letter  from  Lon- 
don, under  date  of  March  18th,  in  which  I  am  informed  that 
Mr.  Kllis  has  been  replaced  by  Lord  Germain,  liord  Sandwich 
by  Admiral  Keppel  and  Lord  North  by  Cavendish.  The  ship 
was  dcitained,  on  the  17th,  at  Camouraska  by  contrary  winds. 
This  is  all  t  could  learn ;  but  if  the  wind  has  not  changed,  I 
hope  some  of  the  pas.sengers  will  land,  and  that  Monday's  paper 
may  bring  us  further  news  about  the  ministers.  May  Heaven 
grant  that  they  may  act  in  our  favor.  The  paper,  which  I 
intrust  you  with,  will  show  you  that  we  have  cause  for  feeling 
very  anxious. 

"Feru.  Haldimand." 


By  the  foregoing  letter,  we  see  how  poorly  even  the  governor 
of  a  province  was  kept  informed  of  the  event  that  had  just 
taken  place  in  the  mother  country. 

Tn  the  beginning  of  August,  a  volunteer  of  Rogers's  corps, 
by  the  name  of  Jonathan  Miller,  who  had  been  captured  by 
the  Americans,  arrived  in  Canada.  He,  with  two  others,  had 
escaped  from  the  Albany  jail.  He  stated  that  Washington  had 
his  head  quarters  at  New  Windsor,  for  the  protection  of  which 
he  had  with  him  a  regiment  of  his  guard.  General  Patterson 
commanded  at  West  Point,  which  was  garrisoned  by  six  thou- 
sand men.  Six  hundred  men  were  on  the  Mohawk  river,  and 
seven  hundred  were  then  marching  to  reenforce  the  enemy. 
General  Riedesel  questioned  this  man  personally.  It  seemed 
that  he,  also,  had  been  held  a  prisoner  at  West  Point,  whence  he 
had  attempted  to  escape,  but  failed.  General  Riedesel  did  not 
fail  to  communicate  the  statements  of  this  man  to  Haldimaud, 
in  a  report  of  the  5th  of  August. 

The  soldiers  at  Sorel  led  a  miserable  life  in  the  barracks, 
which  in  winter  were  terribly  cold,  and  in  summer  fearfully 
hot.  They  were,  also,  full  of  insects.  Referring  to  this  in  his 
report  of  August  5th,  Riedesel  says  : 


120 


MAJOR  OENEIIAL  lUKUKSEL 


"  All  the  barrncks  in  Sorol  .iro  at  present,  full  of  bed  bugs 
and  other  insects,  so  that  the  soldiers,  in  order  to  obtain  any 
sleep  at  all,  are  obliged  to  sit  in  front  of  them  the  entire  night. 
In  consequence  of  this  disagreeable  fact,  T  am  compelled  to  ask 
permission  to  have  the  troops  encamp  on  those  places,  which  I 
have  already  mentioned  to  your  excellency.  This  will  also 
aft'ord  the  master  of  the  barracks  an  opportunity  to  have  them 
repaired  by  the  engineer  in  chief  of  the  department." 

General  Ifaldiniand  at  once  consented  to  this  arrangement, 
and  the  barracks  were  immediately  cleaned  and  put  in  thorough 
order. 

On  the  5th  of  August,  lliedesel  received  the  following  letter 
from  ITuldimand : 


I 


(Private). 

"  QuEHKO,  Au(iu»t  5,  1782. 

"  Sir :  T  will  lose  no  time  in  communicating  to  you  an  im- 
portant piece  of  news  which  I  have  received  in  cipher  from 
Cicneral  Carleton.  He  writes  me,  under  date  of  the  3d  instant, 
that  the  packet  arrived  in  New  York  on  the  31st  of  July.  By 
this,  he  learns  that  the  preliminary  conferences  looking  toward 
a  universal  peace  have  already  begun  at  Paris,  and  that  Mr. 
(Irenville  has  been  sent  there  as  minister.  lie  also  states  that 
as  the  independency  of  the  North  American  states  was  made 
the  basis  of  the  treaty,  his  majesty  authorized  his  minister  to 
declare  the  independence  of  those  thirteen  states,  before  a  single 
article  of  peace  was  proposed.  We  shall  soon  learn  what  have 
been  the  consequences  of  a  concession  of  that  which  has  been 
the  only  cause  of  the  war.  As  far  as  1  am  concerned,  I  en- 
deavor to  persuade  myself  that  we  are  far  from  peace  at  present, 
and,  perhaps,  while  I  write  it  is  all  over  with. 

"  I  send  you,  herewith,  the  last  papers,  in  which  you  will 
find  the  most  interesting  news,  also  a  letter  from  General 
Washiniiton's  commissioner. 


•  i 

I  'I 

'  •I 


LY  THE  AMEIilCAN  REVOLVriOS. 


127 


"  There  has  been  a  very  strong  wind  for  tlie  hist  tlirec  days ; 
and  if  there  are  any  ships  on  the  river,  their  arrival  in  port 
will  not  be  delayed.  1  very  nuich  hope  that  they  will  bring  us 
good  news. 

"  T  have  the  honor,  etc., 

"  FtUlD.  ILVI-UIMAND." 

(jeneral  Carlcton,  who  is  here  mentioned,  had  lately  arrived 
in  New  York  to  succeed  Olinton  in  the  command  of  the  Knglish 
and  German  troops  in  North  America  —  the  latter  officer  having 
been  recalled  to  Kngland.  After  the  unfortunate  capitulation 
of  Cornwallis,  all  eonfidencc  in  (llinton  was  lost.  Indeed,  it  was 
not  as  yet  known  in  England,  which  of  the  two  generals  was 
responsible.  Carlcton.  although  sent  out  by  the  old  ministry, 
was  confirmed  as  commander  in  chief. 

In  regard  to  this,  Ilaldimand  writes  again  t(j  Riedesel  as 
follows :  * 

(Private). 

"  Quebec,  Auifmi  18,  1782. 
"  Sir :  At  last  I  have  received  a  letter  from  (chevalier  Carle- 
ton  ;  I  will  now  communicate  to  you  the  news  he  has  brought 
and  forwarded  to  me.  It  seems  that  the  rebels  were  in  no 
Irirry  to  accept  the  propositions  made  to  them,  although  the 
cuntrary  had  been  anticipated  in  England.  I'erhaps  the  min- 
istry will  now  discover  that  they  did  wrong  in  kei^ping  back 
the  reeuforcements  that  were  to  have  accompanied  Chevalier 
Carlcton  to  New  York.  The  latter  has  not  yet  received  my 
letters,  and  he  tells  me  nothing  so  far  of  the  result  of  his 
negotiations.  He  confines  himself  to  telling  me  that  he  is  still 
inactive;  that  he  has  received  no  letters  from  England  since  his 
arrival ;  and  that  he  begins  to  fear  that  the  packet  has  been 
intercepted.  He  adds  in  cipher :  '  /  tnuit  Inform  you  that  at 
present,  there  are  indications  of  hostilities  both  in  New  York 
and  in  yonr  province.     But  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  the 


128 


MAJOR  OKSEIiAL  IttKDb'SKL 


rrnl  iiitfufionx  <\f  thv  vnvrnji  nrr  (if/diiisf  this  n'h/.^  Yen  wiH, 
f/ifrrfarc,  hr  (t)i  j/iiiir  i/iiiirif  III  tin:  ii'i'iil  of  II  Fri'lic/i  Jli'it  (irrlv- 
iiijf  hire  to  riKipinitr  irifh  ilir  riirmj/.' 

"  I  comiiiunicatc  to  you,  my  dear  {general,  tlio  iiows  aH  I 
have  rocoivod  it.  It  sccnm  to  iiio  tliat  the  Hcason  of  the  year  is 
too  far  advanced  for  the  enemy  to  undertake  aiiythiii}^  against 
us;  and  1  hope  that  tlie  wliippinj:;  he  has  received  on  the 
islands  will  prevent  his  sendinjjj  a  fleet  against  New  York.  As 
tlie  Chevalier  Carh^ton  is  constantly  on  his  guard  and  closely 
watches  his  movements  —  thus  forcing  him  to  confine  himself 
to  his  own  region  —  I  trust  we  shall  be  informed  in  ••ci  -ion. 

"  You  will  also  receive  by  the  courier  a  letter  from  the  adju- 
tant general,  in  relation  to  the  increase  of  the  workmen  on  the 
Isle  aux  Noix.  ^Meanwhile,  you  are  authorized  to  select  those 
officers  whom  you  consider  most  fitted  for  the  difl'ercnt  detach- 
ments ;  and  you  will  oblige  mc  by  going  from  time  to  time 
to  the  designated  places,  as  I  am  convinced  that  your  zeal  and 
presence  will  do  much  toward  the  progress  of  the  work.  Twiss 
will  leave  here  next  Saturday. 

"  I  have  the  honor,  etc., 

''  FkU1>.  llAriOlMAND." 


General  Riedesel  was  greatly  embarrassed  in  regard  to  this 
order  respecting  the  officers,  roncerning  this  matter  he  writes  to 
Ilaldimand  in  a  report,  under  date  of  September  7th.  "  Being 
so  deficient  in  officers  T  know  not  how  to  command  the  compa- 
nies. I  am  ashamed  to  say  that  there  is  not  one  among  them 
that  I  could  use  in  this  mission." 

As  an  explanation  to  this  remark,  it  should  be  mentioned 
that  Ilaldimand  had  informed  Riedesel  that  an  English  officer 
would  soon  go  to  the  prisoners  in  Virginia,  and  that  he  also 
would  be  allowed  to  send  an  officer  to  attend  to  certain  matters, 
and  carry  to  them  clothing.  Finally  Riedesel  selected  one 
from  the  dragoon  regiment,  who  was  to  go  to  Virginia  by  water. 


'  I.e.,  New  York. 


/.v.  77/A'  AMKU/C'AiV  JlKVOLVTIoy. 


129 


LkTTKKS  OF  GeNKRAL    IIaLDIMANK   to  Uk.NKUAI,    HlKliKSKI,. 

(i'riviito). 

"Qi'KHEC,  Si])hnif>,r  K;,  17K2. 

"Sir:  Had  T  suHpeeted  that  the  frigate  Hussar  would  not 
sailboliire  Wodnosday  of  next  week,  and  had  I  known  that  your 
rct'ruits,  your  uniforms,  and  your  bajifiajfo  are  at  Halil'ax,  I 
sliould  not  liave  insisted  upon  the  speedy  return  of  Mr.  (Iriife. 
But  [  will  endeavor  to  make  it  nj)  hy  sendinji  Captain  Hassel 
to  Halifax  ;  and  I  will  also  write  to  IJrij^adier  (ieneriil  Oanip- 
bell,  and  request  him  to  send  your  letters  and  other  thinjis  this 
fall,  if  it  ean  be  done  with  safety.  I  will  also  eharj^e  Cornet 
Sehonewald  to  send  you  theueeall  the  intelligence  he  ean  obtain. 

"I  am  very  miieh  astonished  at  not  having  heard  from  Gene- 
ral Carleton,  and  am  very  impatient  to  procure  some  news 
eoneerning  him  from  another  souree.  Four  days  since  T  dis- 
patched an  express  by  land,  with  letters  to  Penol)seot,  to  the 
oflSeer  in  command  there,  reciuesting  him  to  inform  me  of  every- 
thing that  occurred  there  of  the  least  interest.  I  expect  him 
back  in  a  month ;  and  I  hope  that  you,  also,  will  receive  letters 
from  some  of  your  friends  in  that  place.  It  is  a  pity  that  I  did 
not  learn  their  destination  earlier. 

"  Mr.  Griife,  who  arrived  here  during  Saturday  night,  brought 
me  your  honored  letter  of  the  13th.  The  one  of  the  12th  I 
received  by  mail.  The  one,  you  have  inclosed  for  New  York, 
I  will  attend  to,  and  will  do  my  best  to  have  Cornet  Sehiinewald 
return  this  fall,  as  far,  at  least,  as  Penobscot  or  Halifax,  whence 
it  will  be  possible  to  obtain  answers  to  your  letters. 

"  I  also  sincerely  hope,  my  dear  sir,  that  we  are  near  peace, 
as  your  gracious  sovereign  has  caused  you  to  hope ;  but  I  very 
much  fear  that  the  divisions  which  have  .-.gain  taken  place 
among  the  ministers,  and  the  ambition  of  Washington  and  his 
admirers,  together  with  the  ambitious  plans  of  the  French,  will 
place  great  obstacles  in  its  way.     If  the  chevalier  has  received 


VM) 


MA./Of!  ^/A'.VAVMA  /{fh'UKSKl, 


iirtlorH  (m  m  Htatod)  to  cviH'iiato  New  V(irk,  ho  will  find  it  diffi- 
cult to  ciirry  tliin  out.  iiotwitlistandiiij,'  lio  has  a  floft  tliorti  aw 
Mtroiig  an  tliu  mw  at  Hoistoii.  Hut  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  tho 
want  ol"  iimtcrialH  on  flu;  islands  for  lopaiiinj^  thoir  fleet,  will 
forco  tho  French  to  send  it  to  tho  continont.  In  Hiudi  a  cano, 
part  of  our  fleet  now  at  Boston  may  very  likely  pursue;  aiul 
yet  Carleton  needs  tho  stron>ith  of  tho  entire  fleet.  It  is  sinj^u- 
lar  that  when  ho  has  such  a  safu  opportunity  of  writing  uie  he 
expresses  noithor  hope  nor  fear,  and  that  ho  loaves  iiic,  Hinco  his 
arrival,  in  so  much  uncertainty  concerning  everything.  1  am 
very  sensitive  about  this,  \oone,  my  dear  sir.  could  have  taken 
more  pains  than  y((ur.self  in  perfecting  our  works  on  Isle  aux 
Noix  ;  and  1  rejoice  exceedingly  to  learn  that  our  redoubts 
will  ]»e  fini.shed  before  winter.  I  am  determined  to  make  you 
a  visit  before  the  end  of  tho  month  if  it  i.s  a  possible  thing. 

"  Lieutenant  (!olonel  Carleton  will  also  avail  himself  of  the 
opportunity  att'orded  by  the  Hussar  to  visit  bis  brother  in  Now 
York.  I  shall  select  Colonel  Ilopo  to  take  his  place  as  (|uiirtor 
master  general. 

'•  J'raying  you  to  give  my  respects  to  ]Madam  lliede.sel, 

'•  I  have  the  honor,  etc., 

"  Fkrd.  Haloimand." 

(Private). 

"QUKHKO,  Srptembn-  30,  17H2. 

"  Sir :  I  presume  you  have  heard  that  [  have  twice  vainly 
attempted  to  do  myself  the  honor  of  seeing  y^u,  and  also  paying 
my  respects  to  Madam  lliedesel.     Last  wtel-.  [  was  already  on 

my  way,  when  liaron  ,  whom  I  his'!  1<  I't  behind,  brought 

me  letters  from  the  minister,  which  bad  l>';en  sent  to  him  by  an 
express-ship. 

"  The  duplicates  of  the  letters  T  received  by  another  ship, 
which  was  also  dispatched  for  this  purpose.  This  was  the 
reason  for  my  immediate  return.  The  ships  have  brought  no 
other  letters  but  these  for  me ;  and  you  will,  therefore,  readily 


/,V  TIIK  AMKIIIC.W  IlKVOLVriOS. 


i:u 


Iit'lit'Vo  tliiit  tliiH  has  j^i  ■  i  rise  to  niiiiiy  •'"nji'fhiiiM.  Hut  I 
tell  i/iiii.  ill  (■(iiilidciicc.  tli.il  I  liavf-  rccfivcd  unlcrs  to  hcihI  at 
oiico  to  XfW  York  tliroi!  traiisiHut.M  ami  ntlicr  vosh»'1h  I'or  ciii- 
liarkinji'  \\w  froop.s.     Tlicy  will  have  to  |it>  Hii]i)iru'(l  willi   |nii- 

viwioiiH  and  bo  in  cniidition  to  roccivc  the  ti ps  iiiiiiifdiatclv, 

as  they  arc  to  sail  without  delay  tor  the  islands.  Wo  may, 
thereloro,  take  it  i'or  f^'raiitod  that  the  evaeiialion  o|'  New  York 
is  deeided  iijioii. 

"Teximet  every  nioiiieiit  tin;  arrival  oi'  some  transports  that 
are  now  in  the  rivor,  and  on  which  some  of  your  officers  and 
soldiers  are  oxpeetod.  If  the  weather  proves  favoralile  I  shall 
not  allow  them  to  cast  anchor  here,  hut  will  order  them  at  oiico 
to  SoiH'l.  I  will  send  yon  an  i-xpress  as  soon  as  [  am  informed 
eoncerning  this  matter.  In  this  way.  you  will  have  time  to 
make  the  necessary  arran^emonts  to  have  each  man  ^o  at  once 
to  his  regiment.  Perhaps  it  may  bo  nece.ssary  for  you  to  attend 
to  this  yourself  Hut  as  your  presence  on  the  Isle  aiix  Noix  is 
so  necessary,  you  will  remain  there  until  you  hoar  from  mo. 

*' Please  excuse  my  bad  writing,  but  T  have  only  tiino  to 
u«8uro  you,  etc. 

"  FkRI).  TTAr-IllMAND." 
"(jENKRAIi  KlKDESKL  T(l  (JK.NERAri  IIaMH.MA.M). 

"Sir:  I  have  the  honor  of  informing  your  excellency  that 
I  received  your  letter  of  the  Sth  instant,  also  the  (JazHli; 
which  I  herewith  thankfully  return.  I  have  no  doubt  that 
jicace  has  boon  concluded,  and  that  wo  shall  both  return  to  our 
respective  countries  next  spring.  Your  oxeolloncy  is  aware  of 
the  reasons  which  induce  mo  to  rejoice  in  this  event ;  but, 
generally  speaking,  I  am  too  good  a  patriot  and  (although  no 
Englishman),  hive  this  nation  too  much  not  to  liiment  over  a 
disgraceful  peace  —  concluded  after  such  an  expensive  and 
bloody  war  that  has  lasted  seven  years.  If  this  step  gives  peace 
and  rest  to  millions,  I  shall  be  satisfied,  for  the  enormous  debt 
caused  by  this  war,  the  heavy  taxes  the  interest  of  which  oven 
17* 


» 


132 


MAJOB  OENEIiAL  BIEDESEL 


-  I 

\ 
AT 


it  will  naturally  take  a  long  while  to  pay,  and  the  diminution  of 
trade,  by  the  loss  of  various  channels  that  have  vanished,  must, 
as  a  matter  of  course,  put  a  nation  out  of  humor,  cause  dissatis- 
faction and  new  opposition,  and  thus  create  fresh  sorrow  for  his 
majesty  the  king.  These  are  signs,  which,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  I 
see  in  the  future.  May  God  grant  that  I  am  wrong,  and  that 
I  have  allowed  my  imagination  to  run  away  with  nie. 

"  If,  as  I  fear,  Canada  and  Nova  Scotia  are  to  be  the  only 
provinces  in  America  retained  by  the  English,  then  special 
attention  should  be  paid  by  the  latter  to  render  the  approach  to 
them  as  difficult  as  possible.  Then  the  enemy,  in  ease  of  a 
new  rupture,  which  sooner  or  later  may  take  place,  will  be 
unable  to  become  master  of  them  before  succor  arrives  from 
England.  Tf  this  idea  of  mine  is  correct,  Tsle  aux  Noix  is 
particularly  the  most  appropriate  place  for  defending  Canada 
toward  the  south.  I  think  that  the  plan  of  your  excellency  — 
to  ft. rtify  this  island  —  has  never  been  more  desirable  than  at 
j)resent,  just  previous  to  peace  being  declared  and  published. 
The  construction  uf  fortifications  in  time  of  peace  is  always  a 
cause  for  fresh  dissatisfaction,  and  protestations  from  the  Ameri- 
cans. I  believe,  therefore,  that  I  can  justly  congratulate  you 
upon  the  public  applause  which  you  will  earn  from  your  nation 
for  this  wise  precaution. 

"  Wo  are  getting  along  well  with  the  work  at  this  place;  and 
Captain  Twiss  seems  to  be  very  well  satisfied  with  the  zeal  and 
activity  displayed  by  the  German  soldiers  in  their  work.  It 
is  a  pleasure  to  see  the  English  labor ;  and  I  rejoice  that  the 
Germans  are  trying  to  imitate  their  example.  If  the  masonry 
and  the  woodwork  are  done  with  the  same  celerity  as  the  hand- 
work. 1  am  convinced  that  we  shall  soon  have  finished  the 
three  redoubts,  with  the  exception  of  the  casemates  and  the 
barracks,  which  will  easily  be  finished  by  May  or  June  of  next 
year ;  provided,  of  course,  that  the  weather  does  not  hinder. 

"  My  cashier,  Mr.  Godecke,  has  been  taken  dangerously  ill 
just  as  he  was  arranging  his  accounts.     He  desires  to  see  me. 


J.\  Tim  AMEniCAN  IIEVOLVTIOX. 


133 


As  I  have  everytliing  in  good  working  order  here,  I  sha]l, 
therefore,  with  your  consent,  go  to  Sorel  for  four  or  live  days, 
and  be  back  again  by  the  middle  of  next  week. 

"Captain  Twiss  has  gone  to  Coteau  de  Lac.  He  will  bo 
back  at  eight  o'clock  this  evening.  I  am  in  hopes,  from  what 
Captain  Willoe  told  me,  of  seeing  your  excellency  very  soon ; 
and  it  will  afford  me  much  gratification  should  my  labors  give 
you  satisfaction."  ' 

We  see  by  the  above  letter  that  the  German  general  had  a 
correct  appreciation  of  the  times,  and  spoke  of  and  predicted 
events  with  amazing  precision. 

As  yet,  Ilaldimand,  as  we  have  seen  in  one  of  his  previous 
letters  to  Riedesel,»knew  nothing  of  the  intentions  of  General 
Carleton.  Very  likely  the  British  commander  did  not  know 
them  himself — for  what  with  the  actual  condition  of  affa.rs, 
and  the  armistice  between  the  two  armies,  communicated  to  him 
by  the  ministry,  he  hardly  knew  what  course  to  pursue. 


General  Riede.sel'.s  Answer  to  General  irAfiDiMAND's 
Letter  of  the  30tii  of  Septemker. 

"  Isle  aux  Noix,  (Mohcr  4,  1782. 

"  Yesterday  evening  I  received  two  letters  from  your  excel- 
lency. The  first  was  an  answer  to  my  report  of  the  25th  of  last 
Monday,  and  the  second  was  a  private;  letter.  I  cannot  deny 
that  the  arrival  of  the  two  last  shiiis.  ..ringing  only  dispatches 
to  your  excellency,  has  raisei,'  t!ie  .;  'omU'  of  the  public  to  the 
highest  pitch  ;  while  fhefitMng  ouv  of  tlie  ivansports  has  stirred 
up  a  great  commotion  u\  ■..  fho.  English  regiments  —  the  latter 
expecting  every  momeiit  1 1  reciive  orders  to  embark.  I  allow 
them  to  talk,  knowing  well  thai  it  does  not  diminish  their  zeai 
for  work,  although,  it  nras    be  confessed,  <,hat  the  inclement 


1  This  letter  is  only  a  rough  draft,  and  has  no  signature.    It  was  Wiitten,  without 
doubt,  at  the  beginning  of  October  from  the  Isle  a\ix  Noix.—  Note  in   nqiiuu. 


I 


184 


MAJOR  OENEItAL  lUEDESEL 


i 


f. 


Heason  of  the  year  greatly  discourages  the  troops.     In  tact,  wc 
have  not  had  altogether  ten  good  working  days  this  fall. 

'•  The  hope  of  being  soon  united  to  my  poor  officers  of  the 
convention  affords  nie  the  greatest  joy.  I  must  ascribe  the 
event  to  the  mediation  of  your  excellency,  for  which  I  cannot 
too  sincerely  thank  you.  If  you  would  send  all  those,  who 
belong  to  the  Brunswick  troops,  to  Sorel,  they  might  be  disem- 
barked here,  and  I  would  assign  them  quarters  in  the  parishes 
of  8t.  Ours,  Sorel  and  St.  Denis,  until  your  excellency  desig- 
nates their  winter  cjuarters.  In  this  manner,  when  the  regi- 
ments arrive,  each  man  can  go  to  his  own,  and  everything  can 
be  y "'ranged  for  the  men  (who  probably  have  no  field  baggage), 
without  confusion,  expense  or  inconvenienec.  I  will  arrange 
everything,  with  your  consent,  during  my  stay  at  Sorel.  There 
is  the  best  oi)port unity  here  for  the  llesse  Ilanau  officers  to 
reach  their  own  commands. 

■■  Should  Sir  Guy  Carleton  evacuate  New  York,  the  Ameri- 
cans will  meet  with  no  resistance  but  in  Canada.  This  might 
cause  them  to  nu'ditate  the  subduing  of  the  latter  next  year  if 
France  should  assist  them  by  a  fleet.  Their  vanity,  also,  may 
lead  them  to  cross  the  boundary  into  Canada  without  first  tak- 
ing Quebec. 

'•  Captain  Twiss,  I  presume,  by  this  time,  has  assured  your 
excellency  that  everything  is  still  in  order,  and  that  my  absence 
has  not  caused  the  least  ccs.satiou  in  the  work.  I  hope  you  will 
not  be  dissatisfied  iit  my  excursion  to  Sorel,  inasmuch  as  I  was 
obliged  to  complete  in  that  place  my  dispatches  to  my  govern- 
ment. 

"  I  have  the  honor,  etc., 

"  RlKDKSEL." 

"  P.  S.  Should  your  excellency  allow  provisions  for  sixty 
men  to  be  left  in  the  loyal  block  house,  and  provisions  for  one 
hundred  at  Point  an  Per,  they  would  amount,  for  six  months, 
to  29,280  rations,     it  is  true  that  the  garrisons  of  those  two 


7.V  THE  AMERICAN  REVOLVTWy. 


135 


posts  are  not  sufficient  to  tonsuine  this  amount,  but  I   l.ave 
allowed  more  both  for  the  secret  sorvicc  and  for  unforeseen  con- 


tingencies. 


The  ship  Mercury,  which  was  one  of  the  expected  transports, 
cast  anchor  three  leagues  from  Quebec  on  the  3d  of  October. 
The  cnptain  of  tho  vessel  inimediately  forwarded  llaldimand's 
and  Kiedesel's  letters  to  them  in  advance.  The  latter,  also, 
received  at  the  same  time  one  frim  Lieutenant  Colonel  Mcngen 
who  was  on  board  the  ship.  General  Ilaldimand  requested 
General  lliedesel  —  if  his  health  would  in  any  wise  permit  — 
to  come  at  once  to  Quebec  and  attend  to  the  newly  arrived  men. 
But  before  his  departure,  the  latter  received  the  joyous  news 
that  the  Isle  aux"  Noix  and  St.  John  would  be  provided  with 
provisions  for  4,500  men  for  six  months.  General  lliedesel 
named  the  two  larj^est  ships,  the  Royal  Gkokcje  and  the  In- 
flexible, as  the  ones  in  which  to  transport  the  troops  from 
River  la  Colle. 


General  Haldimand  to  General  RiEUEsKii. 
(Private). 

"  Quebec,  (Hnhcr  4,  17H2. 
•  h.-  The  messenger,  will  nil  I  sent  last  to  New  York,  the 
latter  i  ■>ft  of  July,  has  returned  again  by  the  same  route,  after 
ha\  iig  endured  countless  dangers  and  fatigues.  I  send  you, 
i:;tr  f  nar  sir,  the  answer  to  the  letter  which  you  sent  by  hiui  to 
your  f.-ien  I.  My  letters  from  Chevalier  (^arlcton  are  dated 
Septomber  the  9th.  and  contain,  besides  general  matters,  no- 
thing of  interest.  I  have  not  received  any  letters  either  from 
Governor  Robertson  or  Colonel  Marsh ;  but  I  perceive  by  the 
date  of  the  letter,  which  is  in  cipher,  and  a  copy  (jf  which  I  send 
you,  that  he  could  tell  us  nothing  new  at  that  time.  I  received 
it  the  25th  of  September.  AVe  must  have  patience  for  a  little 
while  longer.     The  season  of  the  year  has  not  advanced  so  far 


136 


AfAJOli  OENERAL  lilEDESEL 


but  that  we  may  still  expect  ships  both  from  Europe  and 
Halifax. 

"  Mr.  Marsh,  whom  you  have  seen  at  Isle  aux  Noix,  has  not 
communicated  to  ;ne  anything  of  interest  since  his  return  from 
the  colonies.  The  inhabitants  of  Vermont  would  like  to  renew 
their  intercourse  with  this  province,  and  settle  again  ou  the 
shores  of  Lake  Champlain,  but  I  cannot  allow  it. 

"  I  hope,  my  dear  sir.  that  this  letter  will  reach  you  after 

your  happy  return  to  Si'    I.     T  cannot  express  to  jou  the  many 

obligations  I  am  under  '  .'  r  the  trouble  you  have  taken 

in  obtaining  winter  quarter?-  '   i  the  troops.     I  hope  you  will 

not  meet  with  any  difficulty.      Vic  may  yet  expect  some  fine 

weather ;  and  I  trust  that  the  34th  lleginient  can  yet  go  to 

Niagara. 

"  I  have  the  honor,  etc., 

"FeKE.  HAIiDIMAND." 

"  P.  S.  In  five  or  six  days  I  shall  have  an  opportunity  of 
writing  to  New  York.  I)o  you  think  that  it  will  be  too  haz- 
ardous to  send  a  letter?  We  must  certainly  be  particularly 
cautious." 

Notwithstanding  his  poor  health,  Riedesel  undertook  the 
journey  to  Quebec;  the  joy  of  once  more  seeing  his  officers  and 
a  port!  ju  of  his  men  making  him  forget  all  personal  considera- 
tions. 

On  his  arrival  in  Quebec,  he  was,  as  usual,  received  by  Hal- 
diniand  in  the  most  friendly  and  cordial  manner.  He  remained 
there,  however,  only  as  long  as  was  necessary  to  welcome  his 
officers  and  men.     There  were  very  few  of  the  latter. 

Immediately  upon  his  return  to  Sorel,  the  general  wrote  his 
dispatches  and  several  personal  letters  to  Europe,  and  sent  them 
by  an  opportunity  that  occurred  shortly  afterwards. 

He  also  sent  a  letter  to  Jjord  8helbourne  bearing  testimony 
to  the  gratefulness  which  he  had  toward  those  who  rendered 
him  faithful  services. 


IN  THE  AMEBWAN  JiEVOLUTION. 


137 


lu  this  letter,  he  writes  respecting  his  two  English  udjutants 
as  follows : 

"  I  have  in  my  suite  two  English  officers  —  one  in  the  capa- 
city of  an  assistant,  by  the  name  of  Willoe,  captain  of  the  8th 
Regiment,  and  anotlier,  Lieutenant  Freeman,  my  adjutant, 
of  the  24th  Regiment,  who  was  formerly  brigadier  major  to 
Brigadier  General  Frazer  who  fell,  October  7th,  1777,  in  the 
engagement  near  the  school  house.  Roth  of  these  officers  were 
detailed  to  nic  by  Lord  George  Germaine  by  the  orders  of  his 
majesty,  the  king  of  Great  Britain.  While  the  otlier  generals 
have  found  means  for  doing  something  for  their  adjutants,  I 
have  been  unable  to  do  anything  to  show  my  gratitude  to  my 
two  officers,  who,  consequently,  hold  to  this  day  the  same  rank 
as  when  I  first  had  the  pleasure  of  having  them  assigned  to  me. 
Both  are  officers  of  talent,  and  both  are  full  of  zeal  for  the 
service,  and  can  be  employed  with  profit,  should  an  opportunity 
offer. 

"  I  am  convinced  that  it  would  be  of  the  greatest  advantage 
to  them  if  they  should  be  remembered  by  your  excellency  when 
a  chance  of  promotion  occurs ;  and  such  a  favor,  on  your  part, 
would  lay  me  under  the  greatest  obligation,  wliich  I  should 
endeavor  to  reciprocate  whenever  an  opportunity  offered." 

Lord  Shelbourn  soon  met  the  wishes  of  Riedesel,  being  eon- 
strained  to  it  not  only  from  the  hitter's  devotion  to  the  cause  of 
England,  but  from  motives  of  personal  friendship.  He  had 
been  Riedesel's  companion  in  arms  during  the  seven  years' 
war,  in  which,  as  Marquis  of  Landsdown,  he  was  schooled  under 
the  excellent  Duke  Ferdinand. 

The  troops  were  distributed  in  their  winter  quarters  in  the 
following  manner : 

The  dragoons  at  St.  Antoine,  the  western  portion  of  St. 
Charles  and  the  western  part  of  Beloeil. 

The  grenadier  battalion  at  Berthier,  La  Norre  and  La  Bal- 
trin.  This  battalion  furnished  an  officer's  post,  together  with 
twenty-five  men,  to  Point  au  Lac. 


is 

i 


®  -"iri 


138 


MAJOR  GENERAL  lilEDENEL 


.  I  ■: 
I  !  • 


I  III' 


The  rcginiont  llhetz  (with  the  exception  of  the  hody  guards 
.and  tlie  company  of  Captain  Olers,  that  went  to  Sorel),  at  8t. 
Denis,  the  eastern  side  of  St.  Charles,  the  eastern  side  of  Belu;il, 
and  Point  Oliver. 

The  regiment  Riedesel  at  Sorcl. 

The  regiment  Speeht  at  Yaniaska,  St.  Francois,  La  Baye  a.id 
llicolet.  This  regiment  furnished  one  officer  and  twenty-five 
men  (under  the  command  of  General  Clarke),  for  the  barracks 
at  Three  Rivers. 

Rarncr's  light  battalion  at  St.  Snlpice,  Argentigny  and 
Ij'Assumtion. 

The  grenadiers  and  the  light  battalion,  npon  crossing  the  St. 
Lawrence,  were  at  once  placed  under  the  command  of  Rrigadicr 
(jleucral  Speeht. 

These  difterent  bjdies  >  if  troops  left  the  Isle  aux  Noix,  in  the 
following  order  : 

1st.  The  grenadiers  and  the  light  battalion. 

2d.  The  regiment  Von  Speeht. 

I5d.  The  regiment  Von  Riedesel. 

4th.  Tlie  regiment  of  dragoons. 

5th.  The  regiment  Von  Rhetz. 

The  ships  which  conveyed  the  troops  from  the  island  to  their 
quarters,  were  given  up  at  Sorel  by  the  deputy  quarter  master 
general.  Captain  Rarnes. 

The  regiments  drew  their  rations  at  the  following  places : 
Those  at  Olivier  and  Relocil,  from  Chambly.  The  rest  of  the 
three  companies  of  the  regiment  Rhetz  and  the  regiment  of 
dragoons  from  St.  Denis.  The  garrison  at  Sorel  from  Screl. 
The  men  at  l^a  Raye  and  Richolet,  from  Three  Rivers.  Those 
at  Yamaska  and  St.  Francois,  from  Sorel. 

Those  recruits  that  arrived  in  the  fall,  were  distributed  by 
Riedesel  among  the  different  regiments.  They  then  were  again 
redistributed  among  the  companies,  which  was  done  by  casting 
lots.  Reforo  the  arrival  of  the  captured  troops  the  want  of 
officers  was  felt  so  greatly,  that  Riedesel  furnished  many  regi- 


IN  THE  AMERICAN  liEVOLUTION. 


139 


luents  from  the  one  of  Prince  Frederick.  Even  then,  some  of 
the  companies  wore  entirely  lUKjfficered.  Upon  the  arrival  of 
the  men  from  Virginia,  those  officers  who  had  been  taken  from 
the  regiment  of  Prince  Frederick,  returned  again  to  it  upon  the 
island  of  St.  John,  i 

Riedesel  now  ordered  all  the  commanders  of  companies  to 
send  him  complete  lists  of  tlieir  men  on  tlie  basis  of  which  he 
had  Captain  Cleve  make  out  a  report.  At  tlie  same  time  he 
had  all  the  accounts  properly  adjusted.  As  there  was,  also, 
still  a  great  want  of  subaltern  officers,  he  directed  Von  Witz- 
laben  and  Von  Fleischer  —  two  young  noblemen  —  to  perform 
the  functions  of  officers;  and  tlieir  names  wore  accordingly 
entered  on  the  official  list.  In  view  of  the  English  allotment, 
this  order  was  not  unimportant.  The  order  in  reference  to 
winter  quarters  is  dated  October  26th,  1782, 

General  IIaldimand  to  (Ieneral  RiEUESEii. 
(Private). 

"  Quebec,  Orfohcr  27,  1782. 

"  Sir :  Reposing  in  you  the  same  confidence,  that  has  never 
been  shaken  since  I  had  the  honor  of  your  acquaintance,  I  send 
you  a  copy  of  the  letter  I  have  received  in  cipher  from  (ioncral 
Carleton.  It  seems  as  if  congress  and  the  southern  provinces 
had  resolved  to  expel  the  Indians  utterly  from  the  country  and 
to  occupy  their  land.  They  will  likewise  endeavor  to  induce 
the  Iiluropean  powers  to  allow  them  to  retain  Canada  and  the 
eastern  portion  of  Florida.  Thoy  will  also,  if  this  does  not 
meet  with  favor,  prolong  the  war  without  soliciting  aid  from 
Europe.  They  are  led  to  this  stop  having  confidence  in  their 
own  resources  and  materials  of  all  kinds  which  thoy  know  well 
how  to  make  use  of. 

"  Perhaps  you  will  think  it  strange  that  they  send  mo  the  news 
of  the  intention  of  the  Americans  to  attack  the  upper  countries 

'  It  is  not  known  with  certainty,  wlictlicr  tlic  regiment  of  Prince  Fredericit  ut 
tliis  time  was  statioiiod  at  St.  J()lni,  or  IhIc  aux  lio\s..—  Note  in  original. 

18* 


140 


MAJOR  OENEIiAL  RIEDESEL 


about  the  beginning  of  October  (I  did  not  hear  of  this  until  the 
end  of  this  mouth),  and  that  I  should  be  told  that  I  could  receive 
succor  by  way  of  Halifax.  This  is  certainly  very  short  notice. 
However,  I  suppose  that  orders  will  have  to  be  at  once  sent  to 
Halifax  to  forward  troops  here  immediately.  I  think  they  will 
be  able  to  get  here  before  navigation  closes,  I  dare  not  ignore 
the  order  without  risk.  I  have  sent  orders  to  the  34th  ^?cgi- 
luent  to  march  at  once  to  Niagara.  Its  place  at  Montreal  will 
be  occupied  by  the  battalion  of  Barner  which,  I  hope,  is  suffi- 
ciently strong  to  attend  to  the  duties  usually  performed  by  the 
34th. 

"  You  have,  T  presume,  received  the  letters  from  Quarter- 
master Gerlach,  by  which  you  will  have  seen  the  changes  that 
have  been  made.  You  may,  at  your  own  pleasure,  make  such 
arrangements  in  your  own  district  iis  seems  to  you  most  desirable. 

"  I  must  now  close,  assuring  you  of  my  entire  esteem. 
"  T  have  the  honor,  etc., 

"  Ferd.  Haldimand." 


■l-T 


copy  of  the  above  mentioned  letter  op  general 
Carleton. 

"  Neav  York,  Svptcmhn-  25,  1782. 

"  Congress  and  the  assembly  of  Pennsylvania  have  determined 
upon  two  expeditions  into  the  Indian  territory.  The  principal 
one,  under  Major  General  Potter,  is  to  consist  of  four  hundred 
Continental  troops  and  six  hundred  militia  and  volunteers.  They 
are  to  rendezvous  at  Fort  Munsey,  on  the  western  arm  of  the 
Susquehanna,  on  the  8th  of  October,  and  thence  are  to  march 
into  the  open  country  around  the  head  of  Pines  creek,  and  into 
the  country  of  the  Seuecas.  The  other  one,  under  the  command 
of  General  Irvine,  is  to  consist  of  one  thousand  men,  of  which 
only  a  few  are  Continentals.  They  are  to  rally  at  Fort  Pitt  early 
in  October  and  march  to  Lake  Erie.  The  objective  point  is  said 
to  be  the  Seneca  country ;  and  the  news,  which  some  of  the 


hV  THE  AMEJIICAN  REVOLUTION. 


141 


escaped  prisoners  from  there  have  brought,  has  done   much 
toward  getting  up  this  expedition. 

"  As  there  is  a  strong  force  in  Xova  Scotia,  T  have  ordered 
Major  General  Patterson  to  give  you  all  the  support  you  may 
desire. 

"The  French  and  the  Continentals,  under  General  Wash- 
ington, are  at  Visplanks  point.' 

"  The  L'Aigle  of  five  guns.  Captain  La  Fouchc  and  the 
Wclanda  of  twenty  guns,  and  loaded  with  freight  from  France, 
have  lately  been  taken  on  the  Delaware. 

"  Guy  Carleton." 

The  8th  Regiment  which  was  stationed  at  Niagara  was  defi- 
cient in  captains.  Accordingly,  the  day  after  his  last  letter  to 
Riedesel,  Ilaldimand  again  wrote  the  latter  in  reference  to  this, 
and  asked  if  he  could  spare  Captain  Willoe  to  proceed  to  that 
post,  promising  to  allow  of  his  return  as  soon  as  circumstances 
would  permit.  In  the  same  letter,  a!?o,  Haldimand  approved  of 
all  the  measures  that  had  been  taken  in  respect  to  the  provi- 
sions sent  to  St.  John.  In  a  postscript  he  adds :  "  The  two 
men  who  have  brought  me  the  letters  from  General  Carleton, 
state  that  it  did  not  in  the  least  seem  as  if  New  York  was  to  be 
evacuated.  They  also  state  that  orders  hod  been  received  not 
to  evacuate  Charlestown.     I  do  not  know  what  to  think  of  it." 

Hiedesel's  Answer  to  these  two  Letters. 

"  I  had  the  honor  of  receiving  two  private  letters  from  your 
excellency  dated  October  27th.  The  one  in  regard  to  Captain 
Willoe  I  received  yesterday  morning ;  and  the  other  one,  with 
General  Carleton's  inclosure,  also  the  same  day.  The  confidence 
which  you  place  in  me  binds  me  stronger  to  you  every  day.  You 
may  rest  assured  that  whatever  you  intrust  to  me  is  most  sacred  ; 
and  your  kindness  may  command  me  always.     Your  wishes  are 


'Probably  VerplanlCg iwint. 


14': 


UAJOli  OENBliAL  niEl>ESEL 


ii  i;  ^ 


with  inc  law,  and  F  shall  ilo  all  I  can  to  further  them  in  this 
case,  althdujih  the  Hepiiratii>n  from  a  man,  who  has  heen  with 
me  for  seven  years,  is  most  painful.  Since  Captain  Willoe  has 
found  out  my  thouf;hts  and  my  tastes,  ho  has  greatly  assisted  mo 
in  my  correspondence.  His  discretion  has  the  ring  of  the  true 
metal.  I  flatter  myself  that  what  T  have  just  said  will  cause 
your  excellency  to  allow  him  to  return  to  me  next  spring,  or,  as 
soon  as  the  danger  in  the  north  has  passed.  1  fear,  however, 
that  he  will  not  be  able  to  render  much  assistance  to  his  regi- 
ment, as  ho  has  been  very  unwell  for  the  last  two  months;  but 
his  ambition  to  serve,  when  your  excellency  needs  him,  forces 
him  to  start  at  once  for  Montreal.  I  hope  he  may  reach  his 
regiment  safely. 

'•  The  movement  of  the  tw(»  corps  toward  the  borders  of  the 
lake  seems  to  be  a  forerunner  of  the  execution  of  the  plan  which 
Franklin  has  proposed,  lie  was  three  or  four  years  with  the 
French  minister;  and  1  have  no  dimbt  that  they  intend,  after 
having  destroyed  the  Indian  settlements  on  the  lower  Niagara, 
to  carry  it  out.  Hut  T  hope  that  the  reenforcements,  which 
yo."  have  sent  to  Niagara,  have  arrived  in  time  to  frustrate  their 
desigrs ;  and,  who  knows  but  that  the  Indians,  taking  courage 
by  thesL  reeiiforcetnents,  may  play  them  a  trick,  and  thus  entirely 
destroy  their  plans. 

"  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  Sir  Guy  did  not  immediately  send 
orders  to  Halifax  to  have  troops  forwarded  to  your  excellency. 
Had  he  done  so,  they  might  have  been  hero  now,  and  you  would 
have  been  able  to  increase  the  detachments  considerably.  But 
this  is  policy  again,  which  does  more  harm  than  the  enemy ! 

"  It  is  certainly  an  advantage  for  you  to  be  able  to  write 
flcneral  Patterson  by  land,  stating  the  number  of  troops  you 
will  need  in  the  spring  after  the  ice  has  gone.  And  if  these 
succors  will  only  arrive  in  the  month  of  May  you  will  be  able 
to  materially  increase  your  force.  I  fear,  however,  that  the 
reenforcements  from  Halifax  will  only  be  productive  of  evil, 
since  Sir  Guy  acts  in  the  same  manner  as  the  king  of  Prussia 


jy  Tllh:  AMKlilCAN  REVOLUTIO.W 


143 


noted  ill  tlio  last  wiir  toward  his  brotliur,  I'rincc  Iluiiry  in 
Saxony. 

•'  Should  the  rchcls  (which  T  will  not  believe)  fi;aiii  a  foothold 
on  the  other  Hide  of  Lake  Ontario,  then  the  Hccond  nartof  your 
plan  niij^ht  be  to  go  over  next  spring  to  Sorel  by  the  way  of 
llengen's  road,  and  form  a  junction  with  the  troops  above 
Montreal.  I  hope  that  Tsle  aux  Noix  will  prove  an  ob.'<taele  to 
their  plan.s.  Finally,  we  must  have  a  firm  confidence  in  provi- 
dence, and  hope  for  the  best. 

"The  battalion  Barncr  will  arrive  in  Montreal  to-morrow; 
the  34th  llegiment  might,  therefore,  be  relieved  the  same  day."' 

Hki'out  ov  Gknerai,  lliKDKSKi,  TO  Oknehai,  IIaloimanm). 

"  After  receiving  the  orders  of  your  excellency  to  send  the 
troops  (hitherto  encamped  on  the  island)  into  their  winter  quarters, 
I  took  the  necessary  measures  in  all  haste,  and  gathered  the  re((ui- 
site  number  of  vessels  and  teams  for  the  transportation  between 
St.  John  and  (Jhanibly.  In  consequence  of  this,  I  have  been 
obliged  to  postpone  the  departure  of  the  troops  for  a  few  days. 
They  are  to  move  in  different  divisions,  in  order  that  one  may 
be  always  a  day's  march  behind  the  other. 

''  1  am  in  despair  at  having  to  report  to  your  excellency  that 
notwithstanding  the  praiseworthy  exertions  of  the  troops,  the 
three  redoubts  are  not  entirely  finished  in  the  way  in  which  I 
promised  you  they  should  be  by  the  end  of  this  month.  The 
continuous  rainy  weather,  making  mud  of  the  whole  soil,  has 
not  only  increased  the  tiresome  labors  of  the  men,  but  retarded 
the  masons  and  carpenters  —  as,  indeed,  T  expected  before  my 
departure.  The  redoubt  (called  the  JjOWER  IIedouht)  is,  as 
yet,  nothing  to  what  I  promised  it  should  bo.  The  wall  is  two 
feet  above  the  entry  ;  but  two  rows  of  masonry  on  the  caaematea 
and  the  rest  of  the  stone  work,  are  finished.     On  the  Ui'l'ER 


•  This  draft  id  without  date.    It  waw  probably  written  the  last  of  October.— *Vo<« 
in  mifjiiial. 


144 


MAJOR  UESKtiAL  niKDKSKL 


li"i:' 


Hkdoiiht  thoro  is  wtill  a  pDrtimi  of  the  wiill  W!llltillJ,^  Oiio  mw. 
Iiiiwovcr,  of  till' ('iiHoinatt's  is  fiiiislii'il  ;  imtl  tlic  nsst  of  tlic  iiiason 
Work  oil  tlin  Wkst  IIkixhiit  is  about  two-tliinlH  coiiipK'tt'd. 
Two  iii'W  roiloul)t,s  havo  liouii  l)(>^;iiii  for  tlio  purposo  of  jraiiiinfj; 
iij^aiii  what  liaB  been  lost  by  the  bail  weatlier.  I  leave  all  the 
iiiasoiiH  ami  earpcntors  here.  The  former  will  work  until  ice 
eoincH,  anil  the  lattt-r  will  remain  here  all  winter,  and  ^ireparc 
till*  wood  and  other  thin<;s  for  next  .summer.  This  latter  kind 
of  work  may  bo  continued  all  winter ;  so  that  I  hope  that  Homo 
of  the  work,  that  Inm  been  retarded  by  the  badne.ss  of  the  8ea- 
Mon.  may  yet  be  aeeomplished  before  the  einso  of  the  present 
year;  and  should  you  allow  me  to  reeomnienee  work  as  soon 
as  the  weather  will  allow,  the  whole  may  be  finished  by  the 
month  of  August. 

"The  provisions  are  all  taken  eare  of  on  the  island;  and 
whatever  may  be  needed  at  St.  John  will  be  sent  there  next 
week.  One  captain,  two  subalterns  and  til'ty  men  will  relieve 
the  light  company  at  Point  au  Fer.  The  latter  will  setoff  with 
me  next  Sunday  to  go  into  winter  quarters.  One  officer  and 
fifty  men  of  the  Iles.so  Hanau  yilgers  will  be  stationed  on  the 
river  \,\\  Colle  for  the  protection  of  the  wood  cutters  in  ca.sc 
of  need.  The  detachments  in  the  two  block  houses  at  Yamaskii 
are  to  bo  relieved  by  tlic  corps  of  Major  Yessop  before  they  go 
into  winter  quarters  in  the  district  of  Montreal.  The  two 
Frasers  will  take  the  command.  The  scouts  are  posted  in  the 
same  manner  as  last  winter.  I  have  left  plain  instructions  to 
Major  Naern  respecting  his  command  at  Point  au  For,  the  loyal 
block  house.  Riviere  la  Tolle,  and  Isle  aux  Noix.  I  have  also 
given  orders  to  Major  Campbell  in  regard  to  St.  John  and 
(Mianibly;  and  have  advised  both  of  these  officers  not  to  trouble 
themselves  with  the  secret  service.  Thus,  I  flatter  myself  that 
I  have  arranged  everything  according  to  the  wishes  of  your 
excellency.     I  shall  return  to  Sorel  next  Sunday. 

"  I  have  the  honor,  etc., 

"  KlEDESKL. 

"  Isle  aux  Noix,  October  30,  1782." 


I 


\W 


/iV  TlIK  AMKIllCW  llEYOUriO.W. 


\\:^ 


Wo  have  alrtiiidy  hwii  by  tlic  uliiivc  Imw  t'lirri'ctly  (Joiioriil 
lliedi'Mol  (livimui  thu  intentions  of  the  enuniy  ;  and  how  wiwi'ly 
lie  iitid  made  his  ananp-inents  fn  meet  them.  In  his  opinion, 
Cainida  was  to  Ik-  kept  in  every  event  for  the  crown;  Init  for 
this  j)urj)oHe  a  well  arranged  system  of  (h-fei^se  was  necessary. 
Nor  did  ho  heliove,  in  view  of  tiic-  weaknes.M  of  tin'  military 
font),  that  this  could  he  done  except  by  fortifications.  For  the 
present  the  chief  attention  was  given  to  the  country  between 
the  outlet  of  liako  Champlain  and  the  mouth  of  the  ilichelieu 

rivor  into  iiakeSt.  Pierre,  and  fi Fortl'oint  an  For  to  Sorel. 

There  wore  already  several  forts  along  the  shore  of  this  river. 
These  mu.st  now  be  made  stronger,  and  redoubts  and  bli'ck 
hou.ses  built. 

St.  John  was  now  the  main  fort  on  the  line  of  the  river. 
This  was  situated  nearly  half  way  between  I'tdnt  au  For  and  St. 
Charles.  A  little  more  to  the  south  was  tho  small  Isle  aux 
Noix,  which,  if  properly  fortified,  would  become  a  good  bulwark 
to  the  fort  in  case  of  an  attack  from  the  oust.  Ricdesel,  there- 
fore, devoted  himself  mainly  to  tho  work  of  fortifying  this 
island.  He  explained  tho  necessity  of  this  most  fully  to  tho 
English  ciminiandor  in  chief,'  and  especially  to  Governor  llal- 
dimaud.  The  latter,  having  the  most  perfect  confidence  in 
him,  entered  fully  into  his  plans.  Thus  he  obtained  permission 
to  arrange  and  carry  out  everything  in  regard  to  this  matter, 
entirely  as  he  thought  fit. 

We  have  also  seen  by  the  above  correspondence  that  there 
was,  during  this  year,  no  uni(»n  of  action  among  the  several 
English  commanders.  It  was  seldom  that  one  received  reliable 
intelligence  from  the  other.  Each  did  as  he  thought  best.  In 
addition  to  this  there  were  dissension  and  irresolution  in  the 
counsels  of  the  English  ministry.  In  view  of  these  circum- 
stances, the  credit  of  preserving  (^mada  to  the  English  is  espe- 
cially due  to  General  Iliedcsol ;  for  only  hinuself  and  llaldimand 


I  Carloton. 


146 


MAJOIi  OENESAL  lilEDESKL 


u 


coniinaiided  in  that  province.  General  Carleton  did  not  trouble 
liiniself  about  it.  To  the  pressing  iiujuiries  of  the  governor, 
ho  answered  only  as  far  as  his  knowledge  went,  and  then  only 
as  much  as  he  was  forced  to.  He  had  enough  to  do  in  ac- 
quainting himself  with  the  general  confusion  of  things  which, 
after  the  capitulation  of  Cornwallis,  liad  taken  hold  of  the 
English  ministry. 

We  have  likewise  seen  in  the  letters,  tb  it  have  been  quoted, 
how  particular  Kiedesel  was  to  acquaint  the  governor  of  Canada 
with  this  and  that  occurrence,  and  to  oblige  him  to  give  in- 
structions in  respect  to  things  of  which,  perhaps,  the  latter 
would  not  always  have  thought.  But  his  modesty  and  prudence 
would  not  allow  him  to  count  this  as  anything  meritorious. 
We  Snd,  by  his  letters,  that  he  did  everything  only  in  pursu- 
ance of  orders  and  accordance  with  the  will  of  his  superior 
officer  —  even  those  things,  the  plan  of  which  he  had  himself 
su^gosted.  lie  evidently  knew  how  to  deal  with  Haldimand. 
who  had  the  name  of  being  a  man  with  whom  no  one  could  get 
along.  It  must,  also,  be  remembered  that  the  latter  being,  at 
that  time,  sickly  and  peevish,  could  not  travel  often  over  his 
province.  He  was  tired  of  his  position,  and  greatly  longed  for 
peace. 

Hitherto  Kiedesel  had  made  every  effort  to  fortify  Isle  aux 
Noix,  before  the  close  of  the  season ;  the  reason  of  his  having 
been  only  partially  successful  has  already  been  seen.  He  was 
not  a  man  who  easily  gave  up  what  he  undertook,  but  in  this 
case  he  could  not  conquer  the  elements.  For  weeks  a  cold  rain 
poured  in  torrents,  softening  the  soil  and  filling  ditches  and 
holes  with  water.  And  yet  in  spite  of  this  the  soldiers,  espe- 
cially the  Germans,  nobly  toiled  on  —  the  latter  not  wishing  to 
give  the  English  an  opportunity  of  saying,  that  they  were 
behind  them  in  endurance  and  perseverance.  They  would 
stand  up  to  their  knees  in  the  water,  wet  to  the  skin,  but  at 
the  same  time,  lustily  handling  the  spade  and  singing  a  German 
song,  while,  in  a  good  laugh  at  some  joke  by  a  jolly  fellow, 


■  M 
I 


P 


iiV  THE  AilEIilCAN  REVOLUTION. 


147 


they  would  for  a  little  while  forget  their  misery.  The  English 
generally  kept  quiet  and  silent,  swallowing  their  anger  at  the 
shocking  weather,  but  working  in  their  way  just  as  well ;  for 
they  loved  the  German  general,  and  did  everything  to  please 
him.  When  the  latter  was  present,  the  work  advanced  better 
and  more  rapidly ;  for  being  himself  jolly  and  in  good  spirits, 
he  had  always  an  encouraging  word  for  his  men.  Then  again, 
many  of  the  young  soldiers,  seeing  the  sick  men  exposing  them- 
selves to  the  inclement  weather,  felt  ashamed  at  having  com- 
plained of  comparative  trifles. 

In  the  beginning  of  November,  Riedcsel  was  still  on  the 
Isle  aux  Noix,  when  he  received  intelligence  of  the  birth  of  a 
daughter.  In  a  letter  dated  December  2d,  Haldimand  informed 
him  that  he  had  received  a  letter  in  cipher  from  Carleton,  but 
which,  as  yet  he  had  been  unable  to  decipher.  He  promises, 
however,  soon  to  let  him  know  its  contents.  This  he  did,  on 
the  5th  of  December,  in  the  following  letter  : 


(Private). 

"  QuEHKC,  Dfcnnher  5,  1782. 

"  Sir  ;  I  hope  you  received  the  letter  from  New  York,  which 
I  had  the  honor  of  sending  you  by  the  last  courier.  At  that 
time  I  was  in  hopes  to  have  sent  you  through  him  sometliing 
of  interest,  but  I  have  been  disappointed  in  my  expectation. 
They  considered  it  sufiicient  to  tell  me,  under  date  of  October 
25th,  that  the  expedition  against  the  upper  country  had  been 
given  up,  and  that  the  French  and  Americans,  who  had  been 
camping  together  for  a  while,  have  separated.  In  another  letter 
of  November  1st,  I  am  informed  that  the  French  are  marching 
from  the  east;  that  it  is,  therefore,  believed  they  will  go  into 
quarters  on  the  Connecticut  river,  though  it  is  impossible  t« 
guess  further  than  that  of  their  intention.  In  a  third  letter  of 
November  12th,  I  am  told  that  the  transports  which  I  dis- 
19* 


148 


MAJon  oenehal  jiiedesel 


patched  on  the  11th  of  the  same  month,'  had  arrived  in 
New  York.  In  conclusion,  I  am  written  to  as  follows  :  '  I  have 
just  now  learned  that  the  French  troops  are  about  embarking 
for  the  West  Indies.'  Robertson  and  Colonel  March  send  me 
two  friendly  letters,  but  do  not  consider  the  opportunity  suffi- 
ciently safe  to  add  more.  I  hope  they  will  profit  by  the  one  of 
Cornet  Schonewald,  and  that  we  shall  see  him  in  the  course  of 
January.  I  return  you  his  letter.  He  seems  by  it  to  be  very 
well  satisfied  with  his  commission. 2 

"  I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  of  the  sickness  of  Madam  Riedesel ; 
but  I  still  hope  that  her  good  constitution  will  conquer  the 
disease  without  the  necessity  of  a  surgical  operation.'  Please, 
my  dear  sir,  to  assure  her  of  my  solicitude,  and  give  my  respects 
to  your  family.  I  have  the  honor,  etc., 

"  Ferd.  Haldimand. 

General  Riedesel  soon  after  received  letters  from  General 
Carleton  and  Captain  Willoe.  The  former  contained  nothing 
of  special  interest;  the  latter  informed  him  of  the  writer's 
safe  arrival  at  Niagara  where  his  regiment  was  stationed. 

Riedesel  had  had  of  late  some  difficulty  with  an  English 
colonel,  by  the  name  of  McLean,  who  had  intrigued  against 
him.  We  cannot  give  here  the  particulars  of  the  trouble. 
Governor  Haldimand,  to  whom  the  matter  was  referred,  de- 
cided it  in  a  manner  that  placed  the  honor  of  the  German 
general  in  the  brightest  light.  The  particulars  of  the  affiiir 
are  seen  in  the  following  letter  : 

(Private). 

"  QuEBKC,  Drecmhcr  19,  1782. 
"  Sir :  Having  been  obliged  to  attend  a  council,  which  lasted 
some  time,  and  upon  which  I  had   not  counted,  I   could  not 


'  Probably  n  mli»i>rint  for  last  month. 

''  Cornet  ScUOiicwnlil  liftd  been  sent  to  Now  York  on  business. 

"  Vide  Journals  of  Mrs.  Ueucral  Kiedcsel. 


AV  THE  AMERICAN  llEVOLUTION. 


149 


before  express  to  you  the  sympathy  I  felt  upon  reading  your 
letter  of  the  16th  of  last  month.  The  honorable  sentiments 
which  you  there  express,  and  the  proofs  of  personal  friendship 
which  you  give  me  have  made  an  impression  upon  me  that  will 
only  cease  with  my  life.  The  prudent  and  firm  conduct  which 
you  ha/c  observed  toward  Lieutciant  Colonel  5lcLcan,  is  the 
best  reason  why  you  should  feel  no  uneasiness  in  regard  to  the 
matter.  Do  not  trouble  yourself  as  to  the  effectfi  of  his  bad 
conduct.  He  cannot  injure  you  here,  and  much  less  in  Eng- 
land, where  I  doubt  not  your  zeal,  your  interest  and  your 
untiring  devotion  to  the  service  of  the  king,  will  be  duly  appre- 
ciated. I  believe,  also,  that  his  majesty  has  too  good  an  opinion 
of  my  honor,  than  to  pay  no  attention  to  the  reports  1  have 
sent  him;  and  I  hope,  therefore,  that  Mr.  3IcLean's  true 
character  will  then  be  found  out. 

"  I  aui  exceedingly  sorry  that  I  have  no  other  means  of  dis- 
posing of  him,  than  to  send  him  to  Sorel,  where  the  artillery 
staff  is  stationed.  But  I  am  convinced  that  you  are  well 
acquainted  with  his  overbearing  disposition  toward  his  subordi- 
nates. Should  you,  however,  against  my  expectations,  take  a 
different  view  of  the  matter,  or  have  a  different  plan  which 
suits  you  better,  let  me  know  it. 

"  I  have,  etc., 

"  Feru.  Haldimand." 


The  Canadians  use,  during  the  winter,  snow  shoes,  similar 
to  those  worn  in  Sweden  and  Norway.  Riedesel  found  them 
so  practical  that  he  introduced  them  among  his  S(jldiers.  On 
the  twenty-ninth  of  December,  he  issued  a  lengthy  order,  in 
which,  among  other  things,  he  says :  "  The  frequent  snows 
in  this  province  render  it  necessary  that  those  who  go  on 
expeditions,  perform  advance  duty,  etc.,  should  wear  snow 
shoes.  This  cannot  be  dono  unless  each  man  is  supplied  with 
moccasins;  the  wearing  of  which  in  the  winter,  iu  place  of 
shoes,  on  or  off  duty  shall  be  allowed,  except  in  case  that  a 


160 


MAJOR  OENEliAL  RIEDESEL 


^1':;- 


& 


V 


rcgiiiient  in  Quebec  or  in  garrison  is  forbidden  to  parade  in 
thoni." 

Pursuant  to  this  order,  the  subalterns  and  privates  received 
each  a  pair  of  moccasins  —  an  article  of  clothing  which  was 
very  cheap,  warm  and  comfortable.  They  were  a  kind  of  shoe 
made  of  the  skins  of  animals,  and  reached  a  good  ways  above 
the  foot  —  a  kind  of  fur  boot  that  lasted  during  an  entire 
winter.     A  pair  of  them  cost  at  that  time  4s.  and  Gd. 

After  his  return  from  Isle  aux  Noix  and  the  troops  had 
gone  into  winter  quarters,  liiedesel  devoted  his  attention  to 
forming  his  men  into  equal  regiments.  Tlie  chief  reason  of 
doing  this  was  the  return  of  the  captured  troops  into  Canada. 
This  task  was  entirely  completed  by  the  1st  of  December. 
A  report,  signed  by  him  on  this  day,  has  this  indorsement : 

"  SoRKL,  Dvvemhcr  1,  1782. 

"General  report  of  the  corps  of  his  most  serene  highness  the 
duke  of  Brunswick,  whicli  is  founded  on  the  general  statement 
made  up  from  the  lists  of  December  1st,  1782,  after  the  arrival 
of  liieutenaut  Colonel  Yon  Mengen,  with  the  exchanged  officers 
and  a  portion  of  the  men  formerly  of  the  convention,  and  after, 
also,  the  arrival  in  Canada  of  the  recruits  of  the  fifth  transport, 
who  are  consecjuently  added  to  the  report  of  the  corps." 
According  to  this  report,  the  troops  consisted  of. 
In  Canada,  139  officers,  25  ensigns,  198  subalterns,  6G  drum- 
mers, 2,170  privates,  190  servants  j  prisoners  of  war,  5  ensigns, 
102  subalterns,  27  drummers,  977  privates,  20  servants;  de- 
tached and  on  furlough,  15  officers,  2  ensigns,  2  subalterns,  8 
privates,  16  servants;  total,  154  officers,  32  ensigns,  302  subal- 
terns, 93  drunmiers,  3.155  privates,  232  servants;  missing,  23 
officers,  1  ensign,  54  subalterns,  9  drummers,  217  privates,  29 
servants.  Total  niunber  in  Canada,  2,788  men ;  prisoners  of 
Wiir,  1,137  men ;  detached  and  on  furlough,  43  men  ;  total, 
3,968  men.  There  were,  therefore,  wanting  333  men  altogether. 
The  regiments  in  Canada  were  of  course  very  weak,  for; 


m 


ny  THE  AilEBIVAN  REVOLVTIOK, 


151 


The  regiment  ofdrn>i:(Mins  numborcd  only, 

Tht*  roginicnt  of  Prince  Frederick, 

The  regiment  Von  Rlietz, 

Tlie  regiment  Von  Riedesel, 

The  repinu^nt  Von  Speclit, 

The  l)attalion  of  grenadiers, 

Tlie  light  battalion,  .... 

The  general's  staff,       .... 


Total  number  in  Canada, 


Men. 
277 
018 
,  401 
899 
306 
253 
425 
10 

2,788 


Of  the  officers  either  out  of  the  province,  on  furlough,  or 
sick,  were ; 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Specht,  Captain  Von  Btirtliiig,  First 
Lieutenant  Von  Milcan,  First  Lieuteuant  Von  llessler,  in 
IJrunswick,  Geruuiny  j  Auditor  Schmidt,  Lieuteuant  Petersen, 
sick  iu  New  York. 

Of  the  detached  officers,  were  ; 

Captain  Cleve  in  Penob.scot  on  the  sixth  transport  of  troops. 

First  Lieutenant  Gebhardt,  Ensign  Specht,  First  Lieutenant 
Rcineking,  Second  Lieutenant  Von  Cramer,  Second  Lieutenant 
Conrady,  with  the  prisoners  at  Rutland ;  Ensign  Gi'impe,  Cor- 
net Schbnewald,  in  New  York. 

The  prisoners  of  the  convention  who  had  been  in  Virginia, 
were  generally  separated  from  their  officers ;  but  the  latter 
having  been  all  exchanged,  and  congress  declaring  the  conven- 
tion null  and  void,  the  designation,  '•  Troops  of  the  Convention," 
was  henceforth  changed  to  "  The  Frlsonkk-s  of  War."  They 
were  sent  to  Rutland  in  New  England,  where  they  remained  until 
peace  was  declared.  Only  one  officer.  First  Lieutenant  Geb- 
hardt and  Ensign  Specht  were  with  them ;  these  latter  being 
detached  merely  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  an  eye  upou  disci- 
pline, etc. 

As  not  a  single  document,  referring  to  the  condition  of  the 
prisoners  this  year,  has  been  found  among  Riedescl's  papers, 
nothing  further  can  be  said  of  them  during  this  period. 


152 


MAJOR  OESERAL  RIEDEHEL 


IV  ■ 


1788. 

At  the  begiiiuiiig  of  this  year  notliing  was  known  in  America 
in  regard  to  the  provisional  treaty  of  peace  made  in  Europe  on 
the  IHth  of  November,  1782.  Financially,  England  was  in  a 
state  bordering  upon  bankruptcy ;  Spain  and  France  were 
nearly  in  the  same  condition ;  and  the  Americans  were  deficient 
in  almost  everything  necessary  for  a  vigorous  prosecution  of 
the  war.  Especially  was  there  a  lack  of  provisions  and  a  well 
regulated  legislation.  They  were  short  of  men  and  ammunition  ; 
and,  at  the  same  time,  a  worthless  paper  money  was  the  only 
means  of  paying  the  troops.  Mutinies  frequently  occurred 
among  the  troops  who  wore  generally  without  discipline ;  and 
some  deserted,  refusing  to  endure  longer  the  hardships  of  the 
war.  It  is  true  that  the  late  success  of  their  arms  had  some- 
what increased  the  courage  of  the  troops,  but  how  long  might 
it  continue  in  case  of  a  reverse? 

The  generals  in  Canada,  who  were  furthest  from  the  theatre 
of  events,  as  yet  knew  not  how  matters  stood.  True,  they  had 
heard  flying  and  contradictory  rumors  of  a  projected  peace,  but 
otherwise  they  were  as  much  in  the  dark  as  any  inhabitant  of 
Canada,  having,  as  yet,  received  no  official  intelligence.  They 
could,  therefore,  do  nothing  but  what  every  careful  soldier  is 
bound  to  do,  viz :  to  take  such  measures  as  would  prevent 
themselves  being  surprised. 

Meanwhile,  Ricdesel  was  waiting  for  the  favorable  season  of 
the  year,  in  order  to  continue  the  work  on  the  fortifications  of 
Chambly.  The  obliging  General  Haldimand,  also,  sent  him, 
during  this  winter,  all  the  important  news  that  he  heard  of; 
and  as  a  sincere  and  well  meaning  friend,  took  ^reat  interest 
in  the  family  aff'airs  of  the  German  general,  which  had  grown 
worse  since  the  operation  that  had  been  performed  upon  the 
breasts  of  Mrs.  Ricdesel. 


,      % 


IN  THE  AMERICAN  liEVOLUTION. 


153 


On  the  9th  of  January,  lliedesol,  who  was  then  at  St.  John, 
received  from  Ilaldiniand  a  letter  in  which  three  documents 
were  inclosed,  containing  more  definite  news,  than  had  hitherto 
been  received,  of  the  events  which  had  occurred  the  previous 
year  in  front  of  Gibraltar. 

Haldimand,  it  seems,  had  also  sent  a  little  while  previous, 
some  spies  into  Vermont.  They  returned  safely;  but,  brought 
thence  no  cheering  news. 

Ilaldimaiid  again  writes  to  Riedesel  as  follows : 

(Private). 

"  QUEHKC,  Jannnry  13,  1783. 

"  My  Dear  Sir :  During  the  night  of  day  before  yesterday,  a 
messenger  was  sent  to  me  from  Halifax,  by  whom  I  expected 
important  news.  I  opened  the  package  in  great  haste,  but  how 
great  was  my  astonishment  at  finding  nothing  but  a  private 
communication  in  cipher,  dated  at  New  York,  October  2(;th, 
the  duplicate  of  which  I  had  received  through  the  woods  six 
weeks  since,  and  the  contents  of  which  I  communicated  to  you 
at  the  time.  I  send  you  herewith  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Gene- 
ral Patterson,  which  is  just  as  original  and  laconic  as  the  one 
of  Sir  Guy.  Yet  it  seems  that  an  alteration  has  been  made 
respecting  the  destination  of  the  troops  now  in  Nova  Scotia.  I 
fear,  therefore,  that  I  shall  not  have  the  promised  succors. 
Consequently,  I  cannot  depend  on  anything  from  that  direction. 

"  I  await  impatiently  the  arrival  of  Ensign  Schiinewald  with 
the  dispatches  which  I  suppose  have  been  intrusted  to  him ;  for  I 
hope  that  the  ministry  will  make  them  '  pay  the  same  attention 
to  us  in  our  corner  as  though  we  were  engaged  in  enterprises 
of  greater  moment.  This  want  of  attention,  on  the  part  of 
our  neighbors,  confirms  me  more  and  more  in  my  resolution, 
made  as  early  as  last  summer. 

"  I  rejoice  very  much  at  your  safe  arrival  in  Sorel,  and  should 


I  T.  c,  Carleton,  and  the  military  government  at  Now  York. 


154 


MA  J  on  OENERAL  lilEDESEL 


If!-' 


rejoice  still  more  did  I  hear  that  Maduni  Riedesel  had  entirely 
reiMivercd.     I  rcijuest  you  to  assure  her  of  my  esteem. 

"  IMcIiean,  inflated  with  arrogance,  will  omit  nothing  to  gain 
adherents;  and,  if  the  least  opportunity  is  given  him,  will  soon 
consider  himself  a  man  of  importance.  I  should  stir  him  up 
myself  if  he  would  stay  here ;  but  I  will  communicate  to  you 
some  information  showing  you  his  character  in  a  yet  different 
light. 

"  In  case  of  any  news  of  interest  occurring,  I  have  directed 
Sherwood  to  inform  you  of  it ;  and  I  request  you  to  forward  it 
to  me  by  the  same  courier,  after  you  have  read  it,  taking  such 
precaution  as  you  shall  deem  necessary. 

"  T  have  the  honor,  etc., 

"  Ferd.  Haldimand." 

General  Haldimand  was  at  this  time  unwell,  but  did  not 
allow  his  sickness  to  prevent  his  attending  to  his  ofiicial  duties. 
The  confidence,  which  ho  placed  in  the  German  general,  is 
evident  from  a  letter  which  he  wrote  to  him  on  the  9th  of 
January.  Among  other  things  he  says  in  it :  "  If  I  was  very 
sick  and  needed  assistance  in  the  service  of  the  king,  you  may, 
dear  sir,  rest  assured  that  you  would  be  the  first  officer  on 
whom  I  would  call."  He,  himself,  did  not  believe,  at  that 
time,  in  peace,  for  in  a  letter  of  February  5th,  he  says  :  "  I 
am  very  much  inclined  to  believe  that  the  war  will  be  continued 
more  vigorously  than  ever.  I  hope  that,  as  good  allies,  we 
shall  be  able  to  keep  working,  and  be  more  succsssful  than  we 
have  been  hitherto." 

lie  writes  again  : 

(Private). 

<'  Quebec,  Fchmary  10,  1783. 
"  My  D(\ar  Sir :  The  messenger,  whom  you  were  so  kind  as  to 
send  me,  arrived  this  morning,  .and  has  handed  me  the  package 
which  you  gave  him.     It  contains  some  matters  of  interest  from 


/ 


TTl 


IN  THE  AMtmiVAN  liEVOLUTIOS. 


155 


my  corrcsporidonts  in  the  colonics,  hut  iioth'mj^  from  New  York. 
Most  of  them  were  written  some  time  since,  hut  hy  one  written 
more  recently,  I  see  that  all  the  French  troops  have  gone  to  the 
islands,  and  that  only  a  single  compiiny  remains  on  tlie  conti- 
nent of  America.  I  perceive,  uLso,  that  (ieneral  Washington 
has  taken  his  head  quarters  on  the  highlands  at  Windsor;  yet 
nothing  looks  like  hostilities  either  on  one  side  or  the  other. 
He  docs  not  believe  yet,  that  peace  has  b(!en  made,  as  congress 
is  said  to  have  resolved  to  do  nothing  without  the  con.scnt  of 
France,  who  is  not  inclined  to  any  peace  but  a  I'avorable  one  ; 
and  as  England  will  not  acknowledge  the  independence  of  her 
rebellious  colonies,  he  furth.er  says  that  each  province,  notwith- 
standing the  high  taxation  which  is  neccjssarily  imposed,  is 
willing  to  support  congress.  lie  believes  that  we  may  expect 
unimportant  news  from  the  islands  to  which  our  and  the  French 
fleet  were  obliged  to  return.  It  seems  that  the  allies  arc  di- 
recting their  attention  to  Jamaica. 

"  My  correspondent  further  assures  me  that  l^ord  Howe  has 
come  to  the  assistance  of  Gibraltar  and  that  he  had  gained 
there  some  advantages  over  the  French  and  Spanish  fleets. 
The  particulars,  however,  are  not  as  yet  learned.  IJut  it  is 
certain,  that  the  allies  have  lost  four  or  five  ships  of  the  line, 
which  were  either  taken  or  destroyed,  and  that  the  siege  had 
been  raised  in  great  haste,  and  with  severe  loss.  It  also  appears 
that  the  Spanish  fleet  had  suffered  much  damage  by  a  storm 
before  Cadiz.  At  the  close  of  his  letter,  he  says,  that  (Jeneral 
Carleton  would  return  to  Europe,  but  it  was  not  known  as  yet 
who  would  be  his  successor. 

"  This,  my  dear  sir,  is  all  that  I  learned.  But  spring  is  at 
hand,  when  all  mysteries  will  be  solved  in  spite  of  all  the  reti- 


cence that  is  observed. 


I  have,  etc., 


Fkru.  IIaluimand." 


Meanwhile,   the    Americans   becoming   more  active   in  the 
southern  provinces  and  in  the  vicinity  of   Albany,  lliedcsel 
20* 


IV  - 


166 


MAJOR  OENEIiAL  ItlEnKSEL 


fcurud  thoy  were  meditiitiii<^  u  ninveiiiont  ngainst  Canada.  IIo 
reported  what  he  had  learned  by  hi-s  omiwHaries,  in  all  huste  to 
r  ildiiiiaiid  thr(ui}j;h  Imh  adjutant,  Captain  Freeman.  The  go- 
rerriDr,  tliereliire,  anwwered  as  lollowH : 


Xi 


,  1 


"  QuKBEC,  February  13,  1783. 

"  My  Dear  Sir :  I  trust  that  Captain  Freeman  will  return 
safely  to  Sorel  with  the  letters  I  have  written  to  you.  As  he 
was  eompletely  exhausted  when  he  arrived,  I  wished  him  to 
rest  a  little  while,  but  the  great  anxiety  pervading  all  circles 
here  to  learu  the  least  thing,  would  not  allow  him  to  do  so. 
This  induces  me  to  ask  if  you  will  not  have  the  kindness,  when- 
ever you  send  mc^engers  to  me,  to  direct  them  to  remain  at 
IMajor  Holland's  (of  which  arrangement  I  have  already  notified 
him)  who  will  immediately  start  (or  his  son  in  his  absence) 
and  bring  the  dispatches  to  me.  I  can  then,  if  necessary,  go 
there  myself  and  speak  with  the  messenger  and  let  him  depart 
without  any  sensation.  I  confess  to  you,  my  dear  sir,  that  I 
am  ashamed  at  having  to  employ  such  means.  I  write  by  this 
messenger  to  Chevalier  Johnson,'  directing  him  immediately  to 
send  five  or  six  of  his  most  active  and  expert  Mohawks  to  watch 
the  road  leading  from  Albany  to  West  point,  and  report  at  once 
to  the  commanding  ofiicer  at  Point  au  Fer  and  himself  whatever 
they  may  learn.  As  for  Sherwood,  I  hope  he  will  be  on  his 
guard  that  he  may  retreat  in  season  ;  and  if  it  should  prove 
true  that  the  enemy  meditate  an  expedition  against  I'oint  au 
Fer,  and  if  we  can  obtain  news  of  his  movements  in  time  for 
Chevalier  Johnson,  with  the  savages  and  his  light  battalion,  to 
fall  back  a  few  miles,  even,  above  Point  au  Fer,  I  believe  that 
we  shall  have  made  a  good  bargain. 

"  I  await  intelligence  from  you  with  impatience  and  have  the 
honor,  etc., 

"  Febd.  IIaldimanu." 


>  Sir  John  Johnson. 


1\  TIIK  AMKIllVAX  JiKVOlVl'lOX. 


167 


Ui)th  the  geiioruls  woro  obli}i;cd  to  nbsorvo  secrecy  re8|)e('fiiif; 
tlioir  {)r(!piiruti(>n8  aguiiiHt  a  hostile  nttiick,  that  theyuiifilit  be 
coiicealeil  an  much  a.s  possible  from  the  ("aiiadiaiis.  They  feared, 
anil  not  without  cause,  that  if  the  disloyal  ones  heard  of  it,  a 
rebellion  might  take  place,  for  the  suppression  of  which  llaldi- 
maiid  felt  himself  too  weak.  On  the  other  hand,  should  the 
liberal  party  become  atMjuainted  with  the  intentions  of  the 
Americans  —  a  fact  which  seemed  likely  —  he  desired  to  main- 
tain secrecy  respecting  his  own  arrangements  that  the  enemy 
might  not  be  informed,  by  the  sudden  confidence  of  the  loyal 
Canadians,  of  the  preparations  made  to  resist  an  attack.  I'oint 
au  Fer  was  an  important  place,  it  being  (lie  key  to  the  northern 
outlet  of  Lake  Champlain.  It  belonged  to  Kiedesel's  district, 
in  which  it  was  the  most  extreme  point.  The  latter,  accord- 
ingly, having  had  it  well  manned  and  fortified,  had  not  the  least 
fear  of  its  being  surprised. 

Indeed.  Riedesel  with  his  accustomed  carefulnes.s  and  activity, 
had  made  every  preparation  to  receive  the  enemy.  Ualdimand 
was  entirely  satisfied  with  his  plans.  It  seems,  however,  that 
he  was  somewhat  in  doubt  regarding  the  discretion  of  the 
loyalists  who  occupied  the  loyal  block  house. 

For  further  safety,  Riedesel  formed  a  detachment,  under 
3Iajor  Campbell,  and  sent  it  still  nearer  the  threatened  points 
for  observation.  His  ideas,  respecting  this  reconriois.sance,  he 
communicated  to  Ualdimand  in  a  letter,  which  the  latter  ans- 
wered under  date  of  February  20,  178ii.     It  is  as  follows  : 

(Private). 

"  QuEHEC,  Frhmary  20,  \1^i.  ? 

"  My  Dear  Sir :  I  see  by  the  letter  with  which  you  have 
honored  me,  through  Mr.  Murray,  that  you  have  made  up, 
with  all  possible  precaution,  a  detachment  to  be  located  to  the 
best  advantage.  I  trust  that  this  little  excursion  will  be  of 
material  benefit  to  the  troops  in  acquiring  experience.  It  is 
not  as  difficult  to  march  in  winter  from  the  log  cabins  into  the 


ir>« 


MAJOli  UEXKltAL  HIKDKSKL 


I 


Woods  t(H  Ih  }>;uiiui'ully  iiim^iiiod.  Meiiiiwliilu,  I  ^ive  my  conHciit 
to  till  th*  jiciunil  iiiid  priviito  ordorw  you  liavo  issiiod  lor  this 
j)\ir|)osi'.  mill.  I  lio]H'.  tli;it  diiriiij;'  your  tour,  you  will  luivo  the 
Biitislactiou  of  hiiviiij;  <!Vcrytliinj<  intelligently  larrifd  out,  itnd  a 
return  of  your  health  by  tlio  oxerei«e  coMHe<|Uont  on  thiH  exeur- 
hIoii.  I  only  fear  that  the  thaw  has  sjioiled  the  roads,  and  that 
the  ice  lietween  St  .John  and  irtle  aux  N'oix  will  break,  thereby 
making  your  tour  very  •liHagrt^eablc.  Should  thi.n  be  the  ea.se, 
I  would  request  ytui  to  postjiono  the  trip  for  tlie  sake  of  your 
own  health  in  whieh  I  am  ho  much  interested. 

"  r  know  not  as  yet  when  I  shall  be  able  to  pay  u  visit  U* 
Madam  Itiedesel ;  but  I  fore.see  that  it  will  be  impossible  during 
the  present  month.  Meanwhile,  remember  me  to  her,  and  be- 
lieve me  in  the  truest  devotion,  etc., 

••  KKltl).  IlALlllMANlt." 

Again  he  writes  a  week  later  : 

"QrKHKc,  Fibnuin/  27,  178M. 

"  My  Dear  Sir:  Convinoed  tliat  exercise  and  a  change  of  air 
will  do  more  for  the  recovery  of  your  health  than  all  the  skill 
of  physicians.  I  greatly  rejoice  to  see  by  your  letter  (d' the  25th 
that  you  tlumght  (d'  starting  the  next  day  for  St.  .John.  The 
frost,  which  we  have,  had  for  the  last  two  days,  leads  me  to 
think  that  the  weuther  will  be  I'avorable  for  you,  and  that  you 
will  return  to  St.  J(din  in  perfect  health.  Captain  Twiss  left 
this  morning,  and,  perhaps,  he  will  have  the  honor  of  seeiug 
you  before  you  receive  this  letter. 

"  Although  I  feel  perfectly  easy  in  regard  to  the  safety  of 
our  advanced  posts,  I  am  very  anxious  to  learn  the  real  cause 
for  the  late  movement  of  the  rebels.  If  they  arc  aiming  at  Ver- 
mont, and  if  they  should  be  successful  in  conquering  it,  I  anti- 
cipate for  us  very  disagreeable  consequences.  IJesides,  my 
hands  are  tied  in  everything;  and  1  hear  nothing  of  what  is 
occvirring  iu  Kurope  or  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  I  am  very  much 
surprised  that  we  have  no  news  as  yet  from  Cornet  Schonewald. 


/.V  TIIK  AMKUHAS  llUVOLI'I'In.S 


li)!) 


Ill'  must  liiivo  arrived  mmn'  tinn'  ii^"'.  "r  liiivc  Mciit  liin  (li.»|i;it('lit's 
l)y  an  tiXjirfxri.  I  j»ruHiiiiie,  liitwi-vcr,  that  lio  lia.s  lu'cii  ilftaiin'il 
at  Now  York.  I  have,  etc., 

"  KkHI).   II.VI.IilMAMi." 


Wo  iiiiiHt  1)0  HatiHKud  iliiriii^'  tliis  iimiitli  witl>  wliat  llaldiiiiaiiil 
writoH  til  IliotloMol.  Only  niio  letter  Im  extant  IrDni  the  latter,  hy 
which  wu  arc  onablod  to  learn  Miiniethin;;  rej^nrding  his  aetivity. 
Feelinjr  unwell  at  this  time,  ht;  pmltahly  wrote  no  nmre  than  wa.s 
ahwilutely  ?ieeesHary.  Thi!  drafts  of  his  letters,  wliieh  are  of 
importanee.  arc  ^'im-rally  met  with,  hut  nothing  of  thu  kiml 
can  bo  found  written  during'  this  month. 

The  atti'iitive  reader  will  have  notieed  a  earelcssness,  on  the 
part  of  llaldimand.  in  regard  to  the  hostile  movements  against 
Canada.  While  tin;  siek  (Jerman  general  starts  on  a  tedious, 
and  perhaps,  dangerous  winter  tour  of  the  outposts,  the  governor 
remains  <|uietly  at  Quebec  scarcely  on  his  guard  ;  while  in  respect 
to  the  intelligence  which  he  receives,  the  Knglish  gem^ral  takes 
his  measures  according  only  to  what  he  himself  believes  tit  be 
true.  Thus  wo  find,  even  in  an  active  and  honorable  man,  that 
remissness  by  which  generals  and  officers  did  so  m\ich  damage 
to  the  cause  of  their  king.  The  increasing  ill  health  and  dejtte- 
tion  of  llaldimand,  however,  is  some  excuse  for  his  conduct. 
lie  was  often  troubled  with  the  stone,  from  which  at  times  ho 
Buffered  intensely. 

Riodesel,  notwithstanding  his  ill  health,  sot  out  on  his  tour 
of  the  northern  forts.  Ho  rode  over  the  Chambly  river  in  a 
.sleigh,  and  traveled  very  fast.  Upon  his  safe  arrival  at  St.  John 
he  wrote,  among  other  things,  to  llaldimand,  that  up  to  that 
time  the  trip  had  been  of  groat  benefit  to  him.  The  governor 
answered  tho  letter  on  the  lUl  of  .March.  In  speaking,  in  this 
letter,  of  the  mftvoments  of  tho  Americans,  ho  says:  ••  I  foresee 
that  wo  must  neglect  no  moans  by  whidi  to  find  out  what  were 
the  real  intentions  of  tho  rebels.  It  is  said  that  the  thaw  has 
frustrated  tho  execution  of  their  plans,  and  there  is,  therefore, 


160 


MAJOn  OKSEIiAL  lilEUEHEL 


iiothiiij^  to  be  feared  for  our  posts.  Tlie  det^i  •hnient  of  Major 
Campbell  may  now  return  to  its  ((uarters.  (^iptaiii  Twiss  will 
nevertheless  attend  to  the  completion  of  the  works.  T  rc(juest, 
therefore,  that  you  will  grant  him  all  thtj  necessary  men  that  ho 
asks  for." 

lie  writes  later : 

'•QHKUKC,  Miinh  (i,  17S:{. 

"  3ly  Dear  Sir :  At  the  moment  that  I  am  about  taking  1113'  pen 
to  answer  your  letter  of  the  2d  inst.,  Major  Kolland  enters  with 
the  package  which  your  messenger,  who  left  St.  John  on  the 
4th.  has  handed  him.  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  my  dear 
sir,  for  the  trouble  you  have  taken,  and  I  now  request  you  only 
to  send  a  special  messenger  when  circumstances  warrant  it.  I 
have  been  prevented  by  the  one  now  here  from  sending  you  the 
answer  by  post.  T  presume  your  sergeant  has  time  to  stay  over 
till  to-morrow. 

'•  If  the  enemy  really  started  on  the  11th  of  last  month  (which 
is,  however,  very  unlikely)  either  from  the  direction  of  Ver- 
mont or  our  outposts,  he  must,  by  this  time,  either  have  returned 
to  his  (|uarters  or  has  intentions  against  Oswego  or  Carleton 
island.  In  the  latter  case,  [  trust  that  the  recent  thaw  has 
made  the  roads,  which  ho  would  h.ave  had  to  take,  impassable. 
At  any  rate,  I  have  every  reason  to  believe  that  he  has  failed  in 
his  undertaking.  Thos(>  two  posts  are  commanded  by  two  active 
and  careful  officers,  and  are  supplied  with  everything  necessary 
for  their  defense.  There  were  in  the  month  of  January  550  meu 
at  Oswego  and  (UiO  at  Carleton  island.  I  cannot,  tlierefore, 
believe,  that  they  have  allowed  themselves  to  be  surprised.  I 
am,  T  repeat,  perfectly  at  ease  in  regard  to  those  two  posts. 
1  am,  however,  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  writing  to  Cheva- 
lier Johnson. 

'•  Colonel  Iloope  left  for  St.  John  this  morning,  and  will  have 
the  honor  of  seeing  you  next  Sunday.  I  very  much  wi.sh  that 
ho  may  be  able  to  visit  our  (uitpostw  —  the  block  houses  and 


/iV  run)  AMERICAN  ItEVOLUTlON. 


IGl 


everything  uuder  the  immediate  superintendence  of  Captain 
Twiss.  I  diHCDver  in  CVilonel  Ifoopo  a  warmtli  and  a  zeal  for 
the  service  of  the  king,  which  makes  me  anticipate  from  him 
great  assistance.  T  have  instructed  him  to  communicate  to  you 
a  discovery  which  he  luis  made  in  regard  to  tlie  magazines  in 
his  district.  1  hope  you  will  suggest  to  him  measures  to  be 
taken  against  those  persons  imj)licated  in  the  matter. 

"  I  am  under  renewed  obligation  to  you  for  the  trouble  you 
have  taken  in  the  matter  of  Captain  Pritchard. '  lie  is  certainly 
a  miserable  creature;  and  I  am  really  at  a  kss  to  know  what 
shall  be  done  with  him. 

'•  I  have  had  no  time  as  yet  to  read  the  newspapers  which 
you  had  the  kindness  to  send  me;  but  from  their  date,  I  do  not 
think  tiicy  contain  anything  of  interest. 

"  I  rejoice  to  hear  that  your  health  is  daily  improving.  No 
one  wishes  your  recovery  more  than  I. 

"  I  have,  etc., 
•'  Fk,i{i».  Mam)1ma.m»." 

It  is  not  a  little  strange  that  TIaldimand   should  now  send  i 
Cohmel  Iloope  to  vis't  the  posts,  after  being  .seemingly  con-  i 
vinced  that  all  dange:-  had  passed.     The  infeniuce  is   thaf  the 
general    intended  by   this    mi,ssion   to    pave   the   way  for    the 
colonel's  promotion. 

The  particulars  relating  to  the  intended  expedition  of  the 
Americans,  Haldiniand  learned  from  Major  Ross,  the  beginning 
of  March. 

Ross  reported  on  the  27th  of  T'ebruary,  from  Niagara,  that 
he  had  learned  on  tlie  14th  of  that  niontii,  from  an  .Vmerican 
deserter,  that  Villet  (a  Fn-iicli  colonei).  had  intended  to  sur- 
prise this  post  during  that  night,  but,  led  astray  by  his  guides, 


^:J?: 


fK 


,^A' 


^A' 


>Captillii  I'ritclmrd  —  a  t'liiiadiaii  ami  n  wily  man  of  doubtful  ri'iiiilalion  —  waw 
I'inployed  by  Ihn  two  j^eneraln  an  an  iiiformor.  It  was  tun  xpccial  duly  to  IikiiiIic 
into  the  HuntiinuntH  of  tliu  ('aiiadiuiiH.  It  waH  aRorward  found  timt  lii;  wax  docriv- 
\ug  both  partluH. 


102 


MAJOIi  QENEKAL  ItlEDEtiEL 


tho  plan  had  boon  frustrated,  and  tliat  he  would  endeavor  to  carry 
out  his  purpose  the  night  following.  He  had  also  learned  that 
the  enemy  did  not  number  over  OOO  men ;  and  that  they  had 
arrived  in  sleighs,  wliieh  they  had  left  behind  in  their  retreat. 
He  (Ross)  had  sent  out  a  dotaehment  t(»  destroy  these  sleighs, 
and,  at  tho  same  time,  had  dispatched  a  snnill  corps  of  200  men 
after  the  retreating  enemy.  The  latter,  however,  had  reached 
their  sleighs  in  time  and  escaped.  "  Major  Ross,"  writes 
General  llaldimand,  "justly  describes  this  expedition  as  tho 
most  stupid  ever  undertaken,  and  praises  it  only  so  far  as  tho 
celerity  and  secrecy  shown  in  carrying  it  out.  The  di.stanco 
from  Saratoga  to  Niagara  was  made  in  eight  days,  and  no  one, 
the  entire  length  of  the  31ohawk,  knew  anything  about  it. 
The  enemy  left  belund  nine  ladders,  and  disappeared  without 
having  had  a  glance  at  the  fort,  or  carrying  with  him  a  single 
prisoner;  ,><o  that  he  retiirned  as  he  had  come  unfamiliar  with 
cverytliing  but  liis  own  flight.  The  enemy  lost  five  men  in 
])ris(incvs  and  deserters;  and  Major  Ross  was  very  sorry  the 
enemy  desisted  from  his  design,  as  the  good  condition  of  his 
own  men,  and  their  anxiety  for  a  fight,  would  have  given  the 
enemy  a  terrible  defeat." 

Uiedesel  was  only  sorry  that  Major  Ross  was  not  sooner  in- 
formed of  this  expedition,  as  it  would  have  been  an  easy  matter 
to  capture  the  sleighs  and  thus  cut  ofl^  ♦he  retreat. 

Uiedesel  was  also  instructed  to  make  in((uiries  regarding  the 
susi)ected  Captain  I'ritchard,  and  to  investigate  tlie  defalcations 
in  the  administrations  of  the  Knglisli  magazines.  As  soon  as 
Colonel  lloojie  gave  him  the  necessary  information  in  tiiis 
niat'er.  ho,  with  his  accustomed  prudence,  sagacity  and  .strict 
impartiality  undo: took  tiic  investigation.  »>xaniined  witnesses, 
and  kept  minutes  concerning  the  whole  affair.  Cai)tain  I'ritch- 
ard was  found  to  be  a  party  to  tiio  transaction,  and,  he,  together 
with  several  oflicials  of  tlie  Knglisli  hospitals,  was  ftmnd  guilty. 
Tile  other  culprits  came  iinder  the  jurisdiction  of  (Jeneral 
llaldimand. 


IN  TUE  AMERICAN  RKVOllJTWN. 


168 


Gr.NEnAi,  TTAT,i>iMANn  to  (Jknerai,  RiKOKSKri. 

"QiJEHKc,  Murvh  17.  17S3. 

"  My  Dear  Sir  :  T  ain  very  much  oblij^'od  to  you  For  aoiidin^ 
mc  by  ail  express  inesscnger  the  speech  of  the  kinjj;.  I  was 
exceedingly  anxious  to  liave  it,  and  I  liave  read  it  witli  great 
pleasure,  although  it  is  somewhat  humble.  I  believe  that  he 
is  for  war,  and  that  this  concession  was  necessary,  under  the 
circumstances,  in  order  to  insure  for  himself  the  good  will  of 
his  subjects  in  case  that  peace  should  demand  too  severe  con- 
ditions. In  such  a  ca.se  T  do  not  believe  that  the  nation  will 
make  the  final  offers.  I  believe,  therefore,  either  that  peace 
will  now  be  made,  or  that  the  war  will  be  proseeu'ted  with  more 
zeal  than  ever.  Our  navy  has  lost  nothing  of  her  lustre,  and 
although  our  expeditions  on  land  have  not  been  successful, 
everything  might  again  be  made  right,  and  even  the  supremacy 
on  this  continent  be  once  more  obtained.  Xotwithstanding. 
however,  peace  seems  to  me  to  be  desirable  ;  and  although  we 
surrender  the  colonies,  the  peace  will  Ite  more  honorable  to  the 
nation  after  having  maintained  the  war  so  long  against  such 
tremendous  odds,  and  in  spite,  too,  of  the  cabals  and  internal 
divisions  which  were  alone  sufficient  to  have  ruined  htir.  What 
happens  to  us  to-day  will  sooner  or  later  overtake  the  |{ourl)on 
family.  Envy  against  power  will  spring  up  ;  alliances  will  be 
formed  against  it  for  the  purpose  of  gnawing  off  it«  claws  ;  and 
the  Americans,  whom  it  now  ])rotects,  may  be  the  first  who  will 
enrich  themselves  from  its  legacy.  It  docs  imt  seem  to  me 
that  the^  can  long  remain  friends. 

'■  I  expect  news  from  New  York  and  Halifax  every  moment, 
from  which  we  may,  perhaps,  learn  what  is  to  be  our  fate  ;  and  I 
sincerely  trust  that  it  may  give  us  tlie  prospect  of  seeing  each 
other  next  fall  in  liondon.  and  tiie  winter  in  Hrunswick.     Amen. 

•  I  have,  etc., 

"  KkiM).  IlAIiKIMAND." 

21* 


164 


MAJOR  aUNEIiAL  lilEnKSKL 


Answer  of  Gknkkal  Kiepeskl. 

^  "SoRET,,  March  v.),  1783. 

"  My  Dear  Sir  :  I  had  the  lionor  of  receiviii}?  by  to-day's 
mail  and  by  a  returned  express  yesterday,  two  official  and  ono 
private  letter  from  yourself.  The  private  letter  of  your  e.xeel- 
leney  has  again  raised  my  spirits.  Although  not  born  in 
England,  I  hope  that  everything  I  have  suffered  for  the  king 
may  be  for  the  best,  and  that  providence  may,  in  time,  grant 
the  means  for  repairing  all  losses.  I  shall  not  at  all  be  sur- 
prised if  America  herself  should  be  engaged  in  war  within  two 
years,  and  the  northern  colonies  separate  from  the  southern 
ones.  1  thank  Heaven  that  the  time  is  near  at  hand  when  I 
shall  be  able  to  return  to  my  fatherland  where  I  will  be  enabled 
to  give  my  children  a  better  education,  and  regain  my  health. 
liut  wherever  I  may  be,  I  shall  never  forget  my  good  fortune 
in  having  served  under  your  excellency ;  for,  withcmt  flattery, 
the  time  I  have  spent  under  you  has  been  the  most  pleasant  of 
all  during  this  war.  With  esteem  and  gratefulness  1  shall  ever 
remember  the  kindness  which  I  have  received  from  yourself.  I 
confess,  also,  that  I  would  gladly  pay  my  respects  to  that  monarch 
for  whom,  and  for  whose  empire  I  have  now  gone  through  fifteen 
campaigns ;  but,  1  greatly  fear,  in  view  of  the  enormous  ex- 
pense of  the  war  and  the  dislike  which  the  present  secretary 
has  toward  the  foreign  troops,  that  the  reception  may  not  come 
up  to  my  expectations,  unless  I  am  introduced  by  a  general 
under  whom  I  had  the  honor  of  serving,  and  to  whom  the  king 
and  the  nation  must  be  grateful  for  the  nuinner  in  which  he 

governed  this  province. 

"  I  have,  etc., 

"  RlEIIESEfi." 


IJV  TllK  AMEIilVAX  REVOLVTWX. 


1G5 


General  IlAr,i)iMANj)  to  (Jeneral  Uiedesel. 
( Privuto). 

"Quebec,  Munk  24,  nSiJ. 
"  My  Dour  Sir  :  Doctor  Maboii,    who  arrived    lierc   Friday 
iiiorniiiir  greatly  fatigued  but  entirely  satisfied  with  liis  journey, 
has  handed  mo  the   letter  with  which  you  honor  nie.'     I  feel 
liighly  flattered  that  you  are  so  well  satisfied  with  your  second 
stay  in  ('anada.     I  [ad  it  been  possible,  and  had  I  followed   my 
inclinations  I   would   gladly  have  done  more  for  you  and  your 
family.     IJut  in  our  situation  one  must  act  acctu'ding  to  circum- 
stances ;  and  you,  my  dear  sir,  have  done  everything  with  a 
zeal,  an  attention  and  a  reliability  which  gives  you  a  perfect 
right  to  claim  my  esteem.     I  shall  always  consider  it  my  duty 
to  do  you  all  the  justice  which  is  due  you.     The  state  of  your 
liealth,  and   your  family  matters,  which   lead   you  to  wish  to 
return  to   P]urope,   are  both  natural  and  praiseworthy,  and  I 
trust  that  your  expectations  may  bo  fulfilled.      Still,  during 
the  last  summer  I,  myself,  have  written  tliree  letters  in  which 
I    also  asked   permission    Ui    return    there    next    autumn.      I 
believe  that  my  request  will  not  be  denied  me  in  case  peace  is 
made. 

••  T  expect  news  every  moment,  and  cannot  understand  why 
it  takes  so  long  to  come.  If  1  do  not  receive  any  within  a  few 
days,  I  shall  believe  that  something  has  turned  up  to  pn^vont 
the  conclusion  of  peace.  IJut  I  hope  we  will  receive  letters 
from  Penobscot  in  a  few  days.  The  son  of  Jiauniore,  who  left 
here  the  17th  of  February,  with  a  couple  of  savages  to  carry 
your  letters  there,  ought  to  have  been  back  in  five  or  six  weeks- 
We  may,  therefore,  expect  him  at  any  hour. 

"  The  pain  in  my  kidneys,  which  still  continues,  does  not 


'  Tlu>  English  Hurgoou  of  slnti;  Miiboii.  hud  just  tliiish('<l  ii  lour  of  the  foils  for 
tlic  pinposo  of  uxaminiiiK  iiilo  llie  hciiltli  of  the  IroopH.  lie  wnc  a  groat  friciid  of 
both  gciiorali*.  Ka'dcsel  geiiL-rally  stayed  at  tho  doctor's  house  when  in  Quebec 
with  his  fauiilv. 


:  \ 


166 


MAJOR  OENERAL  UlEl>KHEL 


allow  1110  to  make  the  journey  to  Sorel  on  the  lee  ;  but  1  intend 
to  make  up  for  it  in  the  njirinj^.      li('((Ui',stinj;-  you  to  assure  the 

Aludam  of  my  esteem, 

'■  I  am,  etc., 

"  Feuk.  IIamumand." 


IFaldimand,  as  late  as  the  latter  part  of  Mareh,  had  no  re- 
liable intellij^eiiee  either  in  regard  to  the  treaty  of  peaee,  or  his 
own  movements  in  ease  of  a  continuanee  of  the  war.  He  writes 
concerning  this  to  lliedesel,  in  a  letter  of  the  31st  of  3Iarch,  as 
follows  :  "  If  the  war  is  to  continue,  it  is  now  high  time  for 
me  to  be  told  what  I  am  to  do.  As  1  expect  this,'  I  greatly 
desire  that  the  works  on  Isle  aux  Noix  should  be  strengthened. 
I  have  written  Captain  Twiss  in  regard  to  this  matter,  and  have 
commissi(jncd  him  on  his  passage  through  Sorel  to  consult  with 
you  regarding  the  means,  the  number  of  men,  and  the  kind  of 
laborers  which  you  can  furnish  for  the  work.  I  expect  him  back 
by  the  8th  of  next  month,  in  order  that  we  may  lose  no  time." 

General  Uiedesel  being  desirous  of  obtaining  definite  inform- 
ation concerning  certain  matters  before  making  arrangements 
for  the  coming  year  —  and  Ilaldimand  knowing  as  little  about 
the  future  as  he  did  liimself —  wrote  directly  to  the  commander 
in  chief,  (\irleton.  liut  neither  did  he  succeed  any  better 
with  him  j  for  the  latter  was,  also,  heartily  sick  of  his  position, 
and  longed  for  nothing  more  than  to  be  recalled  from  a  theatre 
of  war  in  which  he  was  not  only  forced  to  remain  inactive,  but 
risked  the  loss  of  laurels  gained  in  other  campaigns  with  so 
much  trouble.  He  wrote  to  lliedesel  the  beginning  of  April  as 
follows : 


"  New  Youk,  April  9,  1783. 

"  My  Dear   Sir  :    The   trancjuil  state  (jf  affairs  in   (^anada, 
which,  I  believe,  I  must  take  for  granted,  should  not  be  an 


'  I.  e.,  a  coiitiiiimtioii  of  tlie  war. 


IN  r/lK  AMh'niCAN  KEVOLUTION. 


107 


excuse  lor  nc<;le(tiiifj;  tlii.s  opportunity  to  assure  you  of  my 
porfet;t  estoeii),  and  express  to  you  my  especial  wislics  for  your 
welliire  and  liealtli,  in  which  I  also  include  Madam  Uiedesel. 

"  Vou  will  have  learned  that  the  preliminaries  for  a  {general 
peace  have  beiMi  sij^ned  and  ratifii-d  at  Paris.  This,  of  necessity, 
will  cause  several  alterations  in  the  situation  of  the  soldiers.  I, 
for  my  part,  without  waiting  for  the  results,  some  time  since 
urgently  asked  for  a  furlough,  and  expect  the  arrival  of  a  suc- 
cessor daily,  to  whom  I  will  gladly  surrender  the  command. 
JJut  whether  I  am  in  England  or  elsewhere,  1  shall  always  be 
happy  to  give  you  proof  of  my  esteem,  with  which 

"  I  remain,  etc., 

"  Guy  Cakleton." 


.v**' 


«^ 


General  Carleton  thus  ignored  the  main  question,  preferring 
to  leave  its  solution  to  his  successor,  lliedescl,  therefore,  knew 
now  just  as  much  as  he  did  before,  and  had  to  leave  the  rest  to 
time  and  chance.  The  only  thing  he  could  do  was,  to  keep  his 
troops  in  readiness  for  all   contingencies,  and  to  continue  the  ^ 

work  on  the  fortifications.  ^h*       *S 

The  latter  part  of  March,  his  youngest  daughter,  little  Canada,   |i*    .   ^^ 
died.     The  two  older  daughters  h)ved  their  little  sister  so  much, H  ^•^  * 

that  her  death  made  them  both  sick.     The  father,  although  he         , 
hud  summoned  a  good  physician  from  Three  Rivers,  and  did 
everything  in  his  power  for  his  loved  ones,  felt  very  solicitous; 
nor  was  it  until  the  physician  assured  him  most  decidedly  that 
their  illness  was  not  alarming,  that  his  fear  subsided. 

Some  of  the  German  officers  at  Sorel  had  a  cross  with  an 
inscription  placed  on  the  grave  of  the  little  Canada,  who  was 
there  buried  in  consecrated  ground.  The  populace  of  the 
place  were  strict  Roman  (!atholics;  and  the  officers  who  placed 
the  cross  over  the  grave,  belonged  to  the  same  religion.  They, 
with  a  kind  forethought,  placed  the  cross  over  the  little  one  to 
prevent  wicked  hands  of  fanatical  people  violating  the  heretical 
grave. 


><, 


*•."• 


w" 
• 


S 


•I 

■I 

> 


ipii 


IGS 


^M./0/;  GKNERAL  Jit Et)  EH  EL 


Tn  the  lH'j,'iiiiiinj<  of  April,  Hii'dosel  went  t<»  Tslc  iiiix  Noix, 
for  till!  purixmo  »»t'  piiHliiiij^  furward  tlie  work  on  the  lortilicii- 
tioll^i.  Mo  iilso  thotiylit,  liy  t'liaiijfc  ol'  (si-oiir,  to  recover  in  a 
inoiiHiire  from  hi.s  recent  liereavenuuit. 

Towiird  the  middle  of  Ajiril,  llaldiniand  received  Home  indi- 
rect newH  respecting;  the  treaty  of  peace  by  a  ship  which  arrived 
from  the  east.  Tlicy  had  already  a  copy  of  the  treaty  in  IMiila- 
di'lphia.  and  yet  the  ji;ovcrnor  of  Canada  liad  not  received  any 
official  news  of  it  either  I'rom  his  <?ovornnient  or  the  commander 
in  chief  in  New  York  !  General  I  laldiniand.  therefore,  hesitated 
about  sayinji;  anythinj^  publicly  in  rej:;ard  to  it,  although  ho 
wrote  respecting'  it  to  (ieneral  Riedesel  on  the  17th,  as  follows  : 

'•  Since  the  treaty  has  not  yet  been  published,  and  the  future 
of  (\inada  seems  to  nic  still  in  danger  [  shall  nut  publiuh  any- 
thin*^  of  what  1  have  just  learned,  until  it  has  been  communi- 
cated to  me  officially.  This  state  of  thinj;s.  however,  cannot 
last  lonf^,  as  I  have  been  assunul  that  a  package  arrived  in 
New  York  on  tlie  2Gth  of  March.  The  arrival  (tf  Carlcton's 
courier  must  be  refcirded  only  by  the  bad  roads,  since  hostilities 
in  America  were  to  have  ceased  by  the  2(lth  t>f  March." 

lie  also  iniMitions  in  this  letter  the  new  boundaries  of  the 
rNITKI*  StATKS  l»K  NollTll   AmKKICA. 

in  a  letter  of  the  "iOth  of  April,  Ifaldimand  writes  that  he 
had  received  letter.s  from  Carlettm,  but  none  from  the  minister. 
lie  stated,  however,  that  he  expected  one  by  a  frigate  wliich  was 
to  arrive  from  England  in  a  few  days.  All  hostilities  having  on 
the  2l)th  of  March  ceased  on  land  and  water  —  in  conseciucnce  of 
the  treaty  of  peace  and  in  pursuance  of  the  orders  of  his  IJritish 
majesty —  llaldimand.  in  a  manifesto  announced  the  particulars 
to  the  troops  and  the  inhabitants  of  Canada.  Regarding  his 
other  preparations,  he  says  in  the  above  mentioned  letter :  "  I 
will  not  stop  the  winks  which  have  been  begun  on  the  Isle  aux 
Noix.  for  the  reason  that  this  is  very  likely  the  only  fort  wo 
shall  retain  since  the  district  of  Niagara.  Oswego,  and,  perhaps, 
Carletoii  island,  also,  are  to  be  surrendered  to  the  rebels.     The 


•  fc 


7^ 


/.V  TIIK  A.MKKK'AS  lth:V"I.ITIiiS. 


\{V.) 


loyiilistH  nrc  dowiionHt,  aiul  tho  IiKliaiis  liavo  Iiwii  entirely  f'i>r- 
gottcti  ill  tiie  preliiiiiiiiiries.  My  mtiil  is  euinpletely  Ixiwed  ilowii 
witli  f^rief  at  stM^inj;  that  W(!  (with  no  alisnliite  necessity).  hav(! 
hiiiiibled  ourselves  so  iimeh  as  to  aeee|it  such  hiiiiiiliatiii^ 
boundaries.  \  am  heartily  asliained.  and  wish  I  was  in  the 
interior  of  Turtary." 

(leneral  llaldiniand,  notwith.standinj;  tlie  draf'tc^d  peaoe.  would 
not  trust  the  Ainerieans.  Jle  still  I'enred  that  they  niij:ht  yet 
undertake  soinethinj^  aj;ainst  the  southern  boundaries  oi'  Canada, 
before  the  peaee  was  fully  published.  In  this  opinion,  moreover, 
he  was  eonliriiKMl  by  a  letter  from  tho  conimandinj;  staff  officer 
at  Oswcffo,  to  the  effect  that  t\w  enemy  were  coiiteiiiiilatinu;  a 
movement  in  that  direction",  llaldiniand  writes  concerninji  this 
to  Kiedesel  as  follows  : 

"You  understand  as  well  as  1.  that  I  dare  not  for  a  moment 
slacken  our  vif:;ilanee,  which  is  necessary  as  loii^  as  we  have 
tho  misfortune  of  having;  anytbiiiji'  to  do  with  tin;  rebels,  and 
until  the  publication  of  peace;  in  <lue  form.  1,  my.self.  doubt 
whether  even  then,  we  can  enjoy  rest  for  any  length  of  time  in 
their  neighborhood." 

The  work  on  the  fortifications,  esjtecially  those  on  Isle  au.x 
Noix,  was  thoi'efore  pushed  forward  more  vigorously  than  ever. 
Still,  not  ftH  niiiny  men  were  employed  on  them  this  year  as  the 
last,  as  tho  generals,  in  view  (d"  the  uncertainty  of  affairs,  were 
unwilling  to  take  the  nien  away  I'roin  their  winter  ((uarttirs 
unnecessarily. 

On  tho  18th  of  May,  Uiedesel  received  several  letters  from 
(lermany,  and,  among  them,  one  from  his  brother  sealed  with 
black  wax.  His  father  had  died  on  the  r)tli  of  September,  t7S2, 
at  his  manor  in  liauterbacli.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  he  bore 
the  title  of  privy  counselor  of  (Jreat  Jiritain,  and  was  seventy- 
seven  years  of  age.  Riedesel.  already  sad.  grew  more  low 
spirited  upon  hearing  this  news,  and  longed  more  than  ever  i'or 
home,  whore  his  presence  was  now  urgeii''y  needed  for  the 
settlement  of  important  family  matters.       lie  was,  tlierefore, 


•I 


170 


MAJOR  OKNUIIM.  JIIBDKSEL 


V        .r 


tiioHt  hiippily  HiirpriHt'd  iit  recoiviiif;,  tho  iniddlo  itf  June,  tho 
liilliiwiiij;  letter  from  (ieneral  ('iirletim  : 

"Nkw  YdUK,  Jniir  (Itli,  17k:{. 

".My  Hear  Sir:  lliivin>?  this  iiKiiiieiit  received  orders  IVoiii 
Ills  iiiajeHty  tlio  kiiij^  to  neiid,  without  delay,  nil  the  (leniiiiu 
troopft.  wlio  si'rved  in  tho  army,  to  Kurope,  I  am  already 
entra^ed  in  makinj;  the  neecsHary  |ire]iaraticin8  for  carrying; 
them  out  aw  speedily  as  possible.  1  intend  to  endiark  those 
helon^inj^  to  the  Duke  of  IJrunswiek  first.  I  have  also  jjiven 
the  Hanio  ord(!rs  in  re}i;ard  to  those  troop.s  now  in  the  district  of 
Nova  Seotia.  They  will  niareh  to  Duneii,  where  the  rendezvous 
will  take  plaee,  and  where  you  will  reeeive  further  orders. 

'•  Some  of  the  Hriuiswiek  troops  will  have  to  remain  for  a  little 

while  lonjier  in  New  Kn<j;larul,  but  meaaures  for  their  liberation 

have  been  taken. 

"  I  have,  etc., 

'•(iuv  Cahlkton." 


(lenoral  llaldiniaiul  forwarded  the  arranj^ements  for  hasteninj^ 
the  departure  of  the  troops  as  much  as  po.ssil)le.  lie  allowed  the 
IJrunswiek  troops  to  remain  in  their  quarters  uf»  to  the  tinu;  of 
their  sailiu}?,  a  circumstance  which  afforded  them  jjreat  satisfac- 
tion, (ieiuiral  Hiedescl,  also,  had  everything  so  arranged  that  tho 
men  wen;  reiidy  for  departure  at  any  moment. 

In  the  beginning  of  July,  an  opportunity  otfering  to  .send  dis- 
patches to  I'lurope,  Uiedesel  availed  himself  of  it  to  send  a  letter 
to  tho  hereditary  prince  : 

"  1^0  Ill's  iiiosf  siriiir  Hi'i/hiiiss,  t/ic  lli  ralitiifi/  /'n'lirr. 

"  Most  Gracious  Prince  and  Lord :  The  three  kind  letters  of 
your  highness  dated  respectively  the  2()th  of  August,  17HI,  tho 
2(5th  of  i\Iarch  and  the  27th  of  October,  1782,  wore  handed  mo 
eight  days  ago.  It  is  to  me  one  of  the  greatest  sources  of  satis- 
faction U)  sec  that  your  highness  is  pleased  with  my  conduct 


/,V  77/ a;  AMKIIICAS  IIKVOI.VTIOS. 


171 


towiinl  your  tniops,  mihI  tliiit  tlic  ilix-miirnts  in  rcliitinii  to  tliu 
iiivcsti^iitiiiii  at  MtMlliit^r  Imvd  tinally  rfaclicil  you.  It  inliall  lio 
my  constant,  onilcavnr  to  carry  out  tlio  comniaiuls  of  your  liiL'li- 
nt!HH,  and  to  bo  of  use  to  your  troops  in  uvcry  i-nicrjicncy ;  ami 
in  cas(!  of  acts  occurrinjr  cither  auainst  tlic  interests  ofyoiirsclt' 
or  tilt!  service  of  the  kin;:.  I  should  certainly  take  the  liherty  of 
reporting  it  to  you.  Mut  tin;  two  cm-ps  lurt!  are  comnumdcd  hy 
two  such  W(U'thy  men,  that  such  a  ease  could  not  hy  any  po.ssi- 
bility  occur;  and  I  can  (rontidently  report  to  you  tliat  the  com- 
niundiiiir  officer,  (Jeneral  Loos,  who  has  char;,'e  of  the  first 
battalion  of  your  hi;,'hness,  is  certainly  able  to  |u;ivc  Colonel 
Von  Leut/  and  his  re^^iment  the  Hauie  ^ood  testimonial.  It  is 
also  my  duty  to  add  the  .sanu!  in  regard  to  my  friend.  Colonel 
Von  Kreutzber^'.  an<l  the  brave  corps  of  chasseurs  under  my 
immediate  command.'  Not  a  sin;;le  complaint  nor  a  report  of 
any  disorder  has  been  made  during'  all  of  the  ei^^hteeii  months 
that  this  eorp.s  luus  been  under  my  command;  and  Colonel 
KrcMitzber^  has  served  with  such  distinction,  that  \\v  has 
gained  for  himself  the  approbation  ami  love  of  the  entire  army 
and  the  public.  I,  for  my  part,  am  under  doidde  obligations  to 
him  for  the  friendly  readiiu-ss  with  which  he  assisted  me  in  the 
command  of  my  district.  It  bein^'  my  mo,-it  pleasing'  business 
to  carry  out  the  orders  of  y(uir  highness,  I  send  you  herewith  a 
copy  of  the  state  of  the  Hrunswick  troops.  I  have  also  attested 
a  statement  of  the  nund)er  of  the  first  battalion  of  your  high- 
ness for  Colonel  Von  Leutz.  Hut  not  having'  receivtnl  permis- 
sion to  i)ublish  our  system  of  economy,  1  must  rei|uest  you  to 
keep  it  entirely  for  your  own  peru.sal.  1  have  also  asked  tho 
same  of  Cidoncl  Von  Leutz. 

'*  In  conclusion,  as  there  la  no  news  of  importance  since  peace 


'  C'olonul  Voii  LiMitz  took  tho  comiiiiiiKl  of  llio  llcn^o  iruimii  rc^'iiiH'iil  iUUtIIu- 
(l('|iiirluro  of  (,'(ili)M«l  Hull.  I'oIdiu'I  Von  KruiilzbLTf,'  coiumiuidod  tliu  clmssoiirH.— 
Note  lo  oHfjlital. 

22* 


w^ 


172 


MAJOR  (lEXKIlAL  RIEDKSKL 


has  ln>oii  declared,  I  n'ltort  to  you  tliat  all  the  (iorinan  triiii|)H  in 
tliiM  pnivincc  luivo  received  ordcrH  U»  uiuhark  as  wion  uh  tho 
traiiKports,  wliicli  arc  daily  ('X|i"cti'd.  sliall  arrive  lien',  'riicsn 
triiM|(,H  will  very  likely  be  disemlmrked  at  one  and  the  Haiiie 
jilaee  in  (iermany,  whence  1  will  send  a  rt'imrt  to  your  hij;h- 
nt'HH.  It  is  a  pity  that  wo  aro  separated  I'roni  tho  prisoners  of 
war,  and  that  the  reernits  also  should  he  scattered  ovj-r  so  many 
places.  The  latter,  like  myself,  have  heeii  informed  hy  (ieneral 
Carhtton  that  they  will  he  sent  from  the  places  where  they  now 
are  directly  to  (iernniny ;  a  circumstance  which  will  cause  j;reat 
confusion  in  settlin<;  up  the  business  accounts. 

'•I  recommend  my.self  tothe  future  favor  of  your  hif^'hncss. 

"  HlKliKSKf-. 

"Sorol,  Juno^l,  17H;{." 


As  mentioned  in  the  above  letter,  Uiedesel  liad  already  learned 
that  the  convention  prisoners  would  not  be  sent  to  him,  but 
would  ^'o  dir(!ctly  from  the  place  of  their  captivity  to  Kuropc. 
This  was  very  unpleasant  to  him,  for  ho  would  have  much  pro- 
I'crred  to  have  had  all  his  men  together.  Ihit  this  could  not 
bo ;  and  he,  therefore,  consoled  himself  by  doin^  for  them  all 
that  lay  in  his  power.  Toward  the  latter  part  of  June,  ho 
wrote  tho  following  \n  General  Carleton  : 

"  His  excellency,  (Ieneral  Ualdimand,  has  given  me  permis- 
sion to  send  an  officer  by  land  to  New  York.  I  avail  myself  of 
this  opportunity  to  acknowledge  tho  receipt  of  three  letters 
from  you  during  the  winter  and  spring,  t^tgothor  with  an  in- 
closed note,  all  of  which  I  have  answered  by  way  of  Halifax 
and  I'enobseot.  The  la.st  letter  of  your  excellency,  wliich 
Cornet  Sehiinewald  handed  me  on  the  2d  of  June,  deprives  mo 
of  tho  hope  that  our  prisoners  of  war  will  bo  united  with  mo 
before  I  leave  tho  provinco.  As  wo  have  no  orders  as  yot, 
respecting  our  departure,  1  take  tho  liberty  of  .sending  this  offi. 
cor  to  you  in  order  to  request  your  oxeolloncy  to  give  ymir 
protection  to  liieutenaut  lloinokiug,  tho  officer  who  will  accom- 


T^ 


l.\  rilh:  AMKUICAS  liKVUUTlDS. 


\1\\ 


puny  mir  itrisoiicrH  (wlicii  tlicy  an-  i'xeliaii);i'(l )  to  (Icnnaiiy. 
n«  iH  H  |H'rit!ctly  ri>lial)lo  man  ;  uiul  uh  hu  will  ni>u(l  a  cuiisiili'i-- 
ahli'  sum  of  moiuty  whoii  tho  pri«oiier8  arc  i'Xfliaiij.'tMl.  1  woiiltl 
rocomiiii'riil  tiiiii  to  your  cxct'lliMicy,  ami  woulil  r(!i|U('st  yo<i  to 
kindly  {irocuiu  i'or  iiim  tiu!  amount  he  will  iicod  to  natisiy  tlu; 
juHt  dt'iiiamls  ot'tlio  convciitiori  troo|is. 

"Our  priMonors  of  war  buirij^  at  prosoiit  in  two  ditt'ortmt  pro- 
vinces, viz:  thos((  of  tho  Saratopi  convention  in  IVnnsylvania, 
ami  those  of  Henninjjton,  until  the  7tli  of  October,  in  Massa- 
chusetts hay,  a  union  of  these  two  divisions,  preparatory  to 
Hondinj:  thoni  to  Kurope.  would  ho  n  j;rcnt  relief  to  the  .service ; 
for  in  this  way  the  nundier  of  officers  would  be  increased,  and  ii 
bettor  oversij,'ht  maintained.' 

"  Your  excellency  has  always  <riven  your  supjiort  to  llie  troops 
of  my  sovereij,ni,  and  I  therofore  now  leave  them  entirely  under 
your  protection. 

"  Madam  Von  Hiedesel  and  myself  arc  under  many  oblij^a- 
tions  to  you  for  your  kind  remembrances.  Yoti  may  1)0  assured 
that  yourself  and  your  entire  family  will  always  be  respected 
and  beloved  by  us. 

"  I  have  received  a  lettt^r  from  liord  North  in  which  I  am 
informed  that  F  am  to  return  to  Urunswick  with  my  troops. 
He  also  pays  nu^  a  compliment  on  the  part  of  his  majesty  tlie 
kin^,  in  re;rard  to  the  way  in  which  I  have  led  them  durinj,'  the 
war.  The  transports  are  daily  expected.  When  they  arrive, 
we  shall  at  once  embark  and  return  to  Kurope.  1  flatttM'  myself 
that  we  shall  have  tin;  pleasure  of  paying  our  respects  to  Lady 
Mary. 

"  I  have  the  honor  of  recommendinj;  tho  bearer  of  this  letter, 
Lieutenant  D'Annicrs.  and  I  shall  rejoice  very  much  to  .see  him 
here  again  before  we  start,  in  order  to  hear  from  him  something 


'  Wi!  have  nlrciuly  xccii  that  with  tho  llruiis«  Ick  Irnops  of  tho  convention,  who 
niimbcreil  iibont  IMK)  men,  there  were  only  I  wo  o(llcern  ;  while  with  the  prlsonerH  at 
Hcunlngtou  there  wore  cotnpartttlvely  a  large  number  of  olUeer».—iVo<e  tnoriijinai. 


174 


MAJOn  a  EN K HAL  HWDESKL 


rospcotinf^  the  coiulitin?)  of  our  tronps.     I  tlicrc^forc  rcqiiost  yimr 
cxcclUsMcy  ttt  .mmkI  liiiii  back  as  Hodii  as  pitssihln. 

'•  I  havo.  I'ti-., 

"lllKDKSEI.."' 

(icncral  Carlfhin  rcpliod  to  tliis  Icftcr  in  a  very  friendly 
spirit.  Ilo  said  in  liis  letter  tliat  tlie  Urunswiek  tn-ops  ol"  tlie 
convention  bad  sailed  lor  Kurope,  in  cbarfie  of  liieiitenant 
]{einokin<;'.  as  early  as  the  (Jtb  of  June.  Of  the  priHoncrs,  who 
hud  been  left  at  l{ntland  under  two  oflicers,  one  hundred  were 
to  b((  sent  to  New  Vor!-:  -  and  eoiiseijuently  the  lle.ssian  major, 
Haurnieister.  bad  }:;one  to  IMiiiadelpbia  to  settle  the  matter  with 
contrress.  The  troops  would  be  sent  t(»  Europe  immediately 
upon  tlj  ',ir  arrival  in  New  "S  ork. 

This  letter  wa.s  brouj,'ht  by  Tiieutenant  P'Annicrs.  lie  had 
arrived  in  New  York  too  late  to  jro  south  and  imiuire  into  the 
condition  of  the  prisoners.  'J'bey  were  iilready  s'li'.in^  on  the 
broad  ocean  without  Hiede.sel  knowing;  in  what  condition  they 
were  in.  The  only  thinj;  which  consoled  him  was  his  know- 
ledire  of  the  skill  and  honor  of  hieiilenaiit  Peinekinir.  wliom  he 
knew  to  have  <lone  bis  best  to  procure  all  the  nec(!ssaries  for 
the  troops. 

The  JMiiilisb  ;;c>vernnient,  as  a  matter  of  eomse,  was  anxious 
to  tret  rid  of  tlu^  aii.xiliary  troops  as  soon  as  possilile  af'er  the 
declaration  of  jteaei'.  They  cost  a  i;reat  amount  of  money  ilaily, 
and  with  \wx  exelic(|uer  exhausted.  Muj^iand  was  oblijrcd  to  be 
very  economical.  In  addition  to  this,  tbcy  were  desirous  to 
avail  themselves  of  tht^  favorable  season  of  the  year  to  transport 
to  their  homes  the  soldiers  whom  they  did  not  wish  to  leav.i 
lonjicr  in  their  lamentable  position. 

The  above  mentioned  letter  of  hord  N'oilb  to  Uiedesel  reads 
as  foHows : 


'  Till'  (IrnH  of  llilx  letter  \*  without  imiiir  of  pinro  or  diUe.     It  w.is  very  iirohntily 
wrilti'ii  111  8uri-l,  till-  lalliT  iinrt  iif.liiiK'. 


if 


/.v  /•///■,■  .\)ii':itiVAS  UKvoi.irioy. 


175 


"  WllITKII  Al.l,.   Ainll  {\.  17S:}. 

"  My  Dear  Sir :  Proliniiniiry  iiojiotiatidiis  ii.r  iioucc  botwocn 
hiw  iimjoHty  ami  tlio  rnitcd  States  (.f  America  liavi.-i-f  bouiiii, 
and  it  boinj^  tho  iiitciition  to  ri'lVain  fnnii  all  oporatioiiis  against 
(  aiiaila.  I  have  reeeivcnl  urdern  I'niin  the  kinu;  to  inform  you 
that  iuHtnictions  have  been  given  to  (lover/ior  llaldiniand  to 
make  the  neeessary  preparations  for  the  r.  "im  of  yourself  and 
the  troops  of  his  hi<ihness,  the  duke  of  J{r;ijmwick. 

"The  kinjr  has  further  instrueted  nie  to  inform  you  that  lu! 
has  received,  during  your  stay  in  Canada,  the  m..st  honorable 

t«'i<t' "'ii'f*  in   reuard  to  tlui  merits  and  services  of  yourself, 

and  the  brave  conduct  of  your  officers  and  men. 

"  I  pray  t<j  be  permitted  to  add  that  it  gives  me  special  satis- 
faction to  communicate  to  you  (he  assurance  of  the  good  will  of 
his  majesty,  which,  it  is  his  royal  wish,  to  have  expressed  to 
you  in  the  best  maniu'r  possible.  ••  I  iiui   etc.. 

"NaiiTii." 

At  last,  Uicdesel.  having  arranged  matters  so  that  his  men 
coulil  start  at  any  moment  for  <heir  designated  place  ol'  em- 
liarkation.  left  Sortd  with  lii.s  family  for  (.^)uebee  the  early  part  of 
July,  lie  had  long  before  this  received  invitations  from  llal- 
diniand to  visit  him.  It  was  his  inlt  iitii.n  l<.  awaii  there  the 
arrival  of  the  transtJorJs.  The  goveruo-  received  his  friends  as 
usual  in  the  i;i.  ,^1  ci. -dial  manner;  and.  although  In  was  not  yet 
recovered  frcei  hi^  MIness,  he  did  everything  to  make  their  last 
days  in  Cnii  aa.-.  plea.sunt  as  possible.  In  bis  care  fiu"  their 
coming  joiirnev  be  was  indefatigalde.  lie  aJMi.  did  iverythinL: 
in  his  power  tor  the  (Jerman  troops.  Il«'  iiad  a  very  pretty 
villa  near  Quebec,  which  he  called  .Montmorency,  where  iu; 
often  went  with  bis  friends  to  sr,end  a  ph'a.sant  hour,  lie  still 
cherished  the  hope  that  he  should  return  to  Kurope  wiili  iheni  ; 
and  both  the  IJiede.sels  and  himself  made  all  kinds  <if  plans  for 
a  delightful  and  comfortable  joiirmy  together, 


7<t 


if.l.foli'  (iKXmiAt,  ItlEDKSKL 


III  the  hcjriniiiiiL' III"  Aiijrust.  tlic"  tr.iiisjinrts  arrived.  Tliis 
(ilili^icd  (iciuM'.'il  Uiodcsol  tn  r»!tiirii  (iiico  iimro  tii  Snrid  to  iiftciid 
t(i  .sovcral  matters  ;  and  as  tlic  vtissid  upon  whicli  lio  was  ti> 
make  tins  f  ri|t  was  (|iiitc  roumy  and  ('iMnlortabh'.  and  tin;  weather 
delij^ditfiil,  lie  timk  his  laiiiily  with  him.  Vpun  his  retiini  to 
C^uehee  he  iiiund  eV'-rytliing  ready  lor  departure,  llaliliinaiid. 
with  his  usiia!  rnrethoiiuiit.  had  had  a  heaiitil'iil  transport, 
whicli  was  a  fast  sailei'.  lilted  up  and  provided  with  evt'rythin;:; 
necessary  Cor  the  voyaj^e.  ThuH,  sevi'ral  eahins  were  I'urnished 
ill  I'le  most  eoinli;  table  manner,  and  on  the  rear  deek  ho  had  a 
miiii.iture  i:,irden  laid  out  in  wliieli  (earth  havinir  heen  taken  on 
hoard)  lettueo  was  planted  Tor  use  during  the  voyaj;e.  .\  ni!W 
milch  cow  WHS  also  sent  on  hoard  hy  the  special  direction  of 
lialdimand.  liir  Uiedesel's  children  to  whom  he  was  very  much 
all.'icheil. 

In  the  meantime  I  hildimand  received  dispatches  tVum  liondon 
in  which  he  was  ordered  lo  remain  at  his  post  in  ('anad.i. 
With  weepinfreyes  he  eominunii'ated  this  intcUiucnce  to  .Madam 
jliedc.-*el,  addiiiu  in  a  leelinfr  manner,  •  I  had  hoped  that  we 
should  return  toucther;  hul  the  kiiiL'  has  ordered  it  iliffereiilly, 
and  I  must  ohey." 

Hel'ore  his  dejiart lire,  Itii'desel  |ire.-i'nled  lialdimand  with  his 
lavorite  horse  —  a  heautil'ul  mare  with  loal.  The  latter,  also, 
on  his  part  j::ave  .Mrs.  Hiedes»d  a  muH"  and  tippet  of  .sihle  -as 
ii  remembrance  of  tlie  country  in  wliiidi  sln^  had  remained  so 
loii^;."  lie  likewise  jravi^  to  her  eldest  daiijrhter.  .Kuuusta, 
whom  he  playfully  called  the  •  lillle  lady,"  a  little  doi;  to  whitdi 
she  had  taken  a  ureal  fancy. 

The  olVicers.  also,  manil'csted  their  devotion  to  the  family  of 
Hiede.sel,  by  ^ivinji  a  tliealrical  piece  writleii  expressly  for  the 
oecii«iiiii,  and  referrin<r  to  the  approaching  voyajfe.  .\t  the 
close  of  the  perform;iiice.  the  actors  san^  a  son>^  in  praise  of  tlu; 
(ierinan  troops,  after  which  one  ol"  them  adilrcssed  the  ;j;eneral 
in  a  formal  speech  which  s|toke  in  hijih  terms  of  his  friendly 
treatment  of  the  llritish  troops.     The  laist  evening  of  his  stay, 


IX  TIIF   fU/CnrCAiV  BKVOIA  JDiS. 


177 


Ricdcsel,  with  liis  family  and  a  few  fiiciids.  din.'d  at  (ioiioral 
Ilaldiinand's.  At  the  clcwe  of  the  entertainmeiit  tlie  pivenior, 
witli  many  of  tlie  .)fficcrH  ami  inhahitaiifs  .A'  Quehcc,  accom- 
paiiied  the  travelers  to  the  .ship,  where  they  bid  them  a  heart- 
felt farewell. 

Karly  the  next  moriiinj,'.  the  anehor.«  were  hoJHted.  On  the 
same  ship  with  Uiede.sel,  were  hin  adjutant,  his  staff  oflieers, 
Chaplain  .Mylius.  a  band  of  mu,«ie.  and  Doetor  Kennedy  and 
family.!  '|'i„,  \\^.^^^  under  an  i"]ni.'li.-<li  commander,  arrived 
safely  at  Isle  de  Pie  .it  the  month  of  tim  St.  Lawrenee.  Wkyv 
the  shi|)H  w(!re  ol)lij:e<l  to  ea.^t  anchor,  am]  wait  for  a  favorable 
wind.  This  delay  lasted  fourteen  days,  causin^i-  every  one  to 
feel  very  impatient  and  exceedingly  lonesome.  Tho.se  who  had 
taken  with  tluun  fresh  meat  and  ve;:etahles  for  the  voya^'e,  used 
them  \\\\  licrc.  The  joyfulness.  which  until  now,  had  been  on 
board  the  ship,  j^ave  place  to  <iloomy  silence.  And.  in  addi- 
tion to  this,  there  was  danger  of  encounterinji;  e(|uinoclial 
storms  .should  the  voyaj^e  be  in  any  decree  prolonged.  TIk; 
idea  .if  having  to  remain  another  year  in  this  ])art  of  the  wculd, 
was  to  every  one  a  sad.  yea.  a  terrible  thought.  Kvery  one 
longed  for  home.  Hut  om-  Suiulay  morning  while  divine  .service 
was  holding  on  board  ol'  the  generals  ship,  and  whiii'  all  were 
listening  to  the  fervent  prayer  of  Pastor  .Mylius  llu-  a  favoring 
wind,  a  .slight  movemcrif  of  the  ship  was  noticed  —  a  sure  sign 
that  the  wind  had  sprung  up;  and  scarcely  had  the  pastor 
finished  iiis  .-^ernion  when  the  '•oinmand  was  given  to  hoist 
anchor,      Instantly  v'very  one  was  on  the  ijiii  rin. 

The  general,  to  whom  flu;  voyage  was  very  troublesona^  on 
account  of  his  health,  was  exceediiigly  desirous  to  reach  the 
English  coast  as  soon  as  possible.  lie  ecuildbcof  m.  use  lo  his 
troops  during  the  voyage  ;  and,  besides,  he  liail  dispatches  to 
the  king,  which  he  wished  to  hand  him  as  .soon  as  praetieable. 


I. 
|- 
# 


r 
4 


m 


#1 


'  DiH'tiir  Ki'tiiii'ily,  till'  iihyr-iciiui  of  ItiedL-wrx  I'aiiiily  Ht  Hiirol.  Iiiiil  (i.<k('il  nnil 
nlitnliiud  pormiiisliiii  nf  tli(<  intlci'  to  i;o  to  Kn).'Inii(l  on  tlic  Kniiic  Fliiii. 


K 


178 


MA.IOll  OKSKRAL  UlhWESKL 


The  captain  of  the  ship,  tlic  Quebec,  on  which  the  general  was, 
hail  a  jiivat  notion  of  sailing  ahead  of  the  fleet;  but  this  could 
not  be  allowed  without  the  consent  ol' the  coinniodore  ;  nor  was 
it  certain  that  this  could  bi^  tibtaiiied.  An  accident,  however, 
helped  in  this  emergency.  Two  days  after  getting  under  way, 
one  of  the  ships  signaled  that  its  captain  wished  to  speak  with 
the  coniniodore.  'J'he  whole  fleet  wre.  therefore.  ol)ligcd  to 
stop.  The  eoniinodore,  out  of  politenoss.  called  to  the  ship  of 
General  Riedesel  through  a  speaking  trumpet,  "  Keep  on,  gene- 
ral." he,  of  cour.se,  expecting  that  the  ship  would  unite  again 
with  the  rest  of  the  fleet.  Hut  the  captain,  making  this  an 
excuse  for  sailing  ahead,  hoisted  all  his  .sail,  and  soon  the  entire 
fleet  was  left  behind. 

Till'  following  day  a  storm  arose,  which  henceforth  lasted 
more  or  less  during  the  entire  voyage.  Still  as  the  ship  was 
now  in  adva?ice  of  the  fleet,  and  the  wind  was  at  her  back,  she 
was  driven  forward  with  great  rapidity.  Hut  ont;  night,  one 
of  tile  sails  was  blown  away,  and  the  ship  was  thrown  on  lier 
side,  causing  every  one  to  I'ear  the  worst.  The  ship  was  also  in 
danger  of  Are.  A  burning  smell  was  notice<l.  Mvcry  places 
was  examined;  and.iit  length,  .Mrs.  Uii'dcsel  found  in  the  cabin 
of  .Mrs.  Doctor  Kennedy  a  string,  on  which  the  lantern  had 
hung,  on  fire.  This  string  was  tied  around  a  beam,  impregnated 
with  tar,  and  had  it  not  beiMi  fm*  this  opportune  discovery,  it 
would  somi  have  been  in  flames.  Shortly  after  this  ailventure, 
the  ship  encountered  still  another  storm  in  which,  tiiis  time,  she 
lost  one  of  her  masts,  .\ndyet,  notwithstanding  all  these  troubles 
(by  which  the  pas.sengers  were  often  in  danger  of  their  lives), 
the  ca]itain  called  it  a  fnrtirnlili  nim/.  It  did  not  agree  with 
the  general,  iiowi'ver ;  and.  !ieing  unable  to  sleep  at  night  on 
liis  bed,  he  remained  generally  upon  deck.  He  was  so  tired  of 
the  voyage,  that  hi-  oni\  day  remarked  to  his  wile  that  he  had 
rather  sta}  in  a  pig  pen  than  on  board  the  sb.ip. 

Toward  the  end  of  the  voyage  a  dense  log  arose,  causing  the 
captain,  who  eouhl  not  exactly  discover  where  he  was,  to  feur 


/.V  THE  AMKJilCAy  KEVOLUTIOS. 


179 


the  Scilly  i«lmi(ls.  He  therefore  took  in  his  sails,  and  waited. 
On  the  afternoon  of  tlie  18th,  the  fo<;  (liwappeared,  and  revealed 
to  them,  near  at  hand,  the  Lshi  of  Wij;ht.  and  in  the  distance 
the  white,  ehalky  eoa.st  of  Hnj-iand.  Wliat  a  joyous  .'Sensation 
the  passenjrers  experienced  at  heinjr  finally  so  near  their  jour- 
ney's end  !  The  ship  had  sailed  with  amazing  rapidity,  has  ing 
made  the  distance  from  the  mouth  of  the  St.  hawronce  to  the 
coast  of  England  in  eighteen  days.'  After  sailing  under  a 
violent  wind,  and  not  without  danger  around  the  l.nle  of 
AVight.  she  entered  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  bay  of 
St.  Helens.  The  next  morning  the  ship  again  sailed,  and 
would  soon  have  reacluid  I'ortsmouth  had  she  not  had  the  mis- 
fortune to  run  on  to  a  sunken  man  of  war  '  in  that  harbor.  In 
this  dangerous  position  she  remained  all  that  day  and  the  fol- 
lowing night.  rpon  once  more  getting  ufioat,  and  entering 
Portsmouth  harbor,  cliance  so  ordered  it  that  she  ran  in  between 
two  other  ships  with  which  .Madam  lliedesel  was  well  aci|uaintcd. 
One  of  them  had  carried  her  from  England  to  l.'anada,  and  the 
other  from  New  York  to  Quebec. 

As  the  vessel,  on  account  of  the  ebb  tide,  was  unable  to  reach 
land,  Riedesel  chartered  a  lugger  to  convi-y  him  ashore.  This 
trip  cost  him  considerable  ;  for  he  was  badly  cheated,  and  forced 
to  pay  fifteen  guineas  (over  one  huiidre<l  tinders)  for  a  distnnoe 

of  only  half  an  hour.     The  next  day.  Uiechssel.  ace panieil  I.v 

an  adjutant,  started  from  I'orlsninuth  for  l.undciu  in  order  to 
hand  the  king  the  dispatches  he  had  brought.  The  hitter  re- 
ceived him  in  the  most  kind  and  gracious  manner.  Madam 
lliedesel  arrived  in  liondon  a  few  ilays  later. 

In  London,  tlu'  family  met  ag;iin  many  old  friends,  and  among 
them  (/ouural  Tryon  and  others  who  bud  retunicd  from  Ame-  / 


'  Tlii;'  wiiM  Ihc  lli-l   ^liip  lliiil   had  iiiiulc  llml  ili^liiiii-c  ill  •»ii  !.tn>ri  ii  liinr.    Shu 
rnii  hIic'kI  iir  n  Kroiiih  frigate  wliii  li  miiilc  ilii>  r-iiiiu' ilintiiiirc  in  iiliii'ii'cn  dnyn.— 

Xule  ill  Olil/lllll/. 

''  Mrs,  Uicik'sil,  in  licr  joiiiiml,  i"liU(-  lliiii  llii"  i<iinkcn  wliip  wuh  tln'  wrccli  dIIIio 
Hoyal  (i"(ir){<'. 

2;»* 


180 


MA.) on  OENEIIAL  ItlEDESEL 


rit'ii.  All  did  their  best  tci  iiiiikc  their  stay  as  pleasant  as  pos- 
sible. The  jreiieral  and  his  wife  were  one  evening  invited  to 
take  tea  at  the  cnurt  when  no  one  but  the  royal  family  was 
present.  .Madam  Riedesel  was  seated  between  the  queen  and 
the  oldest  princess.  She  was  oblifred  to  relate  a  great  deal  of 
her  adventures  to  the  ladies,  and  she  was  fully  c((ual  to  the 
task,  for  she  had  experienced  much,  and  knew  how  to  relate  it 
in  an  interesting  manner.  She  excelled,  indeed,  in  carrying  on 
n  conversation.  The  king  stood  near  the  fire  place  conversing 
with  the  gtMieral  upon  more  serious  affairs.  The  former,  also, 
was  so  obiiuing  as  to  carry  on  the  conversation  in  the  German 
language.  Riedesel  and  his  wife  remained  until  nearly  ten 
o'clock  with  the  royal  family,  whom  Mrs.  Kiedesel  describes  as 
exceedingly  amiable.  She  writes :  "The  royal  family  have,  in 
fact,  the  gift  of  taking  all  constraint  from  one,  so  that  we  felt 
as  if  we  were  with  a  happy  family  of  our  own  rank." 

During  (heir  stay  in  liondon,  Riedesel  and  family  were  the 
recipients  of  many  proofs  of  esteem.  l'ers(Uis  of  high  rank, 
whom  he  had  not  hitherto  known,  paid  t\\v\v  respects  to  him  in 
person,  .\niong  these  were  the  secretaries.  North  and  ]'\ix. 
Such  distinctions  were  at  this  time,  not  generally  paid  in  Lon- 
don to  foreigneis  —  an  evidence  that  the  German  general  had  a 
good  name  in  that  city. 

The  general  wished  very  much  to  remain  longer  in  liOn<lon, 
and  see  scnne  of  his  conqtanions  in  the  seven  years'  war  and 
the  sights  of  the  great  nietropnlif*.  l)ufc  the  German  troops 
were  hurried  oil.  giving  him  no  option  in  the  matter.  The 
latter  were  again  emliarked  at  Deal,  a  little  city  on  the  canal, 
'i'he  e(|ninoctial  had  just  begun  ;  and  the  weather  was  so  stormy 
as  to  render  the  embarkation  dangerous.  Fortunately,  how- 
ever, everything  was  accomplished  witlnuit  accident.  Three  days 
were  spent  in  the  stormy  voyage  to  Stade.  The  ent(!ring  of  the 
Kibe  was  esi)eeially  difheuit ;  and  tiie  general,  who  was  anxious 
to  get  to  Stade  as  soon  as  possible,  was  conveyed  to  the  shore 
in  a  boat,  and  thenei^  in  a  eaniaire  to  the  citv.      His  wife  arrived 


h\  THE  AMERWA^f  REVOLUTION. 


181 


tlicro  at  eleven  o'clnck  in  the  cveninfj;  under  the  escort  ol'  (lu; 
eaptaiii  of  the  sliip  wlio  had  carried  her  from  Quebec  to  En<^- 
land. 

Tlie  {,'oneral.  wi.shing  t<i  wait  for  tlu;  arrival  of  bis  troops, 
remained  here  a  day  longer  than  his  wife,  who  preceded  him  to 
Wolfiiiibiittel.  The  latter  was  met  in  that  town  l)y  her  lady 
friends,  who  had  already  heard  of  her  arrival.  Her  house  liad 
been  prepare<l  tor  her  reception ;  and  she  found  everything  as 
she  had  left  it  seven  years  ago. 

From  Stade,  Kiedesel  wrote  the  following  letter  to  Duke  Fer- 
diii,  -'d  : 

"  Stade,  Siptnnhn-  2(5,  178;{. 

"  Gracious  Sovereign :  Trusting  that  your  highness  has  re- 
ceived my  last  letter,  sent  you  by  my  adjutant,  Captain  Cleve, 
I  have  the  honor  of  announcing  to  you  higliness  the  safe 
arrival  of  myself  and  the  rest  of  tiie  Hrunswick  troops  on  tlie 
coast  of  (fcrmany.  My  health,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  lias 
been,  during  the  whole  time,  pretty  good,  but  for  the  past  few 
days  I  have  been  suffering  from  a  slight  fever,  which  has  weak- 
ened me  consideraldy.  I  hope,  however,  that  air  and  exercise 
will  aid  nic  again  to  throw  it  oft". 

"  Fight  days  since  I  was  in  London,  and  had  the  good  fortune 
of  being  presented  to  the  king.  His  majesty  reijuestod  mt-  to 
give  your  highness  his  most  friendly  eoniplinients.  but  1  siiall 
reserve  to  myst^lf  the  pleasure  (  '"  comniunicating  orally  all  the 
expressions  of  regard  and  esteem  for  yi'Ur  per.suu  which  tlie 
king  expressed  to  nu!  on  this  occasion. 

"  I  had  also  the  pleasure  of  meeting  several  oifieers  who 
enjoyed  the  protection  of  your  highness  during  the  last  war,' 
especially  (i(!neral  Conway,  (ieneral  Howard.  Clievalier  Clinton, 
ami  Lord  Southamj)ton  — all  of  whom  desired  to  be  remembered 
to  you.  They  are  all  very  much  attached  to  yourtw-lf,  and  openly 
glory  in  their  affcu'tion  and  regard  for  their  excellent  general. 


'  Tho  Bovon  years'  war.—  Mote  in  orir/iiial. 


T" 


182 


MAJon  GKXK/IAL  ItlKDRSKL 


"  T  sliall  remain  here  a  tew  days  in  order  to  draw  the  money 
for  tht!  sul»si(*(enci' ol"  the  troops.  I  shall  then  hasten  and  jiiaeo 
myself  !ij;ain  at  the  iiead  of  the  lirst  division,  and  remain  in 
wliatever  garrison  to  which  I  am  a|i|iointed.  As  soon  as  I  am 
throu<rh  with  my  oitieial  dnties,  !  shall  hasten  to  Mrnnswiek  to 
report  myself  in  person  to  yonr  hijihness.  and  solicit  the  former 
favor  which  I  have  enjoyed,  an<l  also  to  assnrc?  your  hi;.fhiicss  of 
the  deep  devotion  and  unaltcrahie  attachment  with  which  1  shall 
rej^ard  you  all  tlie  days  of  my  life. 

'•  .My  wife  re(|nest«  mo  to  remember  herself  ami  family  to 
your  hiirhness.  Slit;  waits  impatiently  for  the  time  when  .she 
can  jKiy  her  respects  to  you  in  person.  Iler.self  and  family  are 
very  well.  She  will  remain  here  ii  lew  days,  and  then  go  to 
IJrunswick  by  the  shortest  route. 

'•  Hoping  to  be  able  to  wait  soon  on  your  highne8.'(, 

••  I  have  the  honor,  ete., 

''  IUkdk.ski,." 


The  march  to  Wolfeid)iittel  occupied  eight  days.  On  the 
way  he  pidilished  a  eircnbr  addressed  to  the  commanders  of 
regiments,  thanking  them  for  their  devotion  and  good  behavior 
It  reads  as  follows  : 


during  the  war 


iKl/r/.KN,  ()rfi,t„,-4,  17H:5. 
"Ah  the  time  is  now  close  at  hand  when  I  must  lay  down 
the  command  of  those  lirunswiek  troops,  known  as  the  Knglish 
subsidies,  and  as  I  am  yet  in  ignorance  of  my  future  destination, 
I  cannot  let  the  opportunity  pass  ol"  expressing  to  your  honors 
my  thanks  for  the  great  /eal  and  fidelity  yon  have  manifested 
in  the  service,  and  also  for  the  personal  politeness  and  friendship 
I  have  enjoyed  from  you  during  the  time  I  have  had  the  honor 
to  command  this  cor])S  in  .\merica;  and,  although  I  have 
thanked  all  the  oHicers  in  a  general  order,  yet  I  rcMjuest  your 
honors  to  repeat  it  again,  and  to  present,  in  the  liveliest  e<dor8, 
my  gratitude  to  the  dillerent  regiment**. 


/A'  TlIK  AMKltlVAX  KE'VOWTlOX. 


183 


"It  would  1)0  wrong  for  the  UruiiHwifk  corps  to  beliovc.  thnt 
as  his  most  serene  highness  is  siitisfied  with  the  conduct  of  tlm 
troops,  niul  possesses  coniplt^te  knowledge  of  the  <|Utilities  and 
merits  of  each  officer,  he  will  not  treat  every  one  according  to 
his  real  deserts.  In  whatever  cases  his  most  serene  hiyrhness 
consults  me,  I  shall  always  faithfully  make  my  report;  and  I 
hope  that  the  officers  will  not  ascrihc  it  to  me.  nor  annoy  nn-  if 
some  pisrsons  are  not  as  pleased  as  they  e.xitcetcd.  Wiiencvcr 
I  can  personally  serve  your  honors,  it  will  always  give  nn;  (he 
greatest  pleasure  to  do  so.  In  conclusion,  be  assured  that  I 
renniin  always  with  the  greatest  regard, 


"  RlKDRSKr.. 


To  liicutemmt  Colonel  Ilillc, 
liieutenant  Oohmcl  Mengen, 
Lieutenant  CVdonel  Harner, 
Major  Maihorn, 
Major  Lueke, 
Major  Khrenkrook, 
Lieutenant  Colmiel  I'raetorius." 


"  To  the  Comininii/rri)/  t/ir  Dnii/onn  liiijlmriit : 

"  I  shall  never  forget  the  special  love  ami  attachment  which 
this  brave  regiment  has  manifested  toward  nie.  nor  the  readiness 
with  which  it  has  ever  met  my  wishes.  It  is  a  real  satisfaction 
to  WW  that  his  .serene  highness  has  such  a  good  opinion  of  this 
regiment,  that  in  future,  it  will  he  ])laced  on  a  better  footing 
than  it  now  is.  and  that  the  reduction,  soon  to  take  place,  will, 
perhaps,  have  no  influence  whatever  upon  this  regiiniMit.  I 
pray  your  honor,  to  inform  not  only  the  oflicers,  but  the  whoh? 
regiment,  of  this  fact,  that  tin;  latter  may  be  convinced  that  I 
have  not  forgotten  its  merits.  I  am.  also,  in  hopes  that  this 
assurance  will  do  away  with  a  certain  ill  humor  and  dissati.sfac- 
tion  which  I  have  noticed,  »ad  enable  it  to  go  into  garrison 
with  the  same  homu-  with  which  it  marched  out. 

"  RiEDESKL." 


184 


MAJon  OK.VKIIAL  ItlKDKSKL. 


"  T»  Llruhnnnt  dnlmul  Vm  Wlh  : 

"  Ah  ('oldiii'l  Vdii  Si»oclit  IcikIh  tilt!  H(M'()ii(l  (livisidii  as  coiii- 
inim(l(!r  ol'  the  curps,  yniir  lioiiKr  will  li'iid  my  rt'jj:iiiu!iit  into 
j,'iirris(tii  ;  mid,  I  flatter  nipi'lf,  tliat  imlt-Hs  fato  j^rwitly  diHap- 
poiiifH  nil!,  ymir  riitiiit'  doHtiiiy  will  be  siii-li  as  to  anijily  i'lilfill 
your  l>rij;lit('st  aiiticijtaliiniH. 

■•  It  lias  always  \n-v\i  my  custtini  tn  nM(uiro  as  much  aspossiblo 
of  my  iiil'aiitiy  rcj^'imoiit ;  and  I  miiHt  hore  givt-  testimony  to 
tile  nolile  manner  in  which  it  ha.s  surpaHScd  my  uxiieetationH. 
I  have  hut  one  more  last  demand  to  make  of  you  and  the  eorp8 
of  ofliei'rs,  viz  :  that  you  will  ^o  into  liarrison  in  the  same  neat 
and  pniptu"  dress  in  whieh  I  have  seen  the  rejiiment  at  Montreal 
and  Sorel.  The  details,  where  it  is  possible,  I  leave  to  you, 
but  you  will  allow  mo  to  work  for  the  general  p>od  of  tho 
officers  as  I  shall  deem  proper,  and  accordinji:  to  my  best  ability. 
I  feel,  also,  assured  that  most  of  them,  if  they  take  a  just  view 
of  thinjj;H,  will  be  satisfied  with  their  future  lot. 

"  1  remain,  etc., 

''  HlKDKSEr.." 


On  tho  Hth  of  October,  tho  general,  at  the  head  of  the  first 
division,  and  surrounded  by  an  immonsc  and  joyous  eoncourso 
of  people,  entered  IJrunswiek.  The  duko  rode  out  on  horse- 
back a  part  of  the  way  in  advance  to  meet  him,  and  had  tho 
soldiers  march  to  the  parade  j;rouiid.  'I'he  troops,  destined  for 
Wolfenbiittel  and  to  whom  tho  general  belonged,  thereupon 
marched  to  that  eity. 

The  brave  troops  brought  back  with  them  to  their  homes, 
their  old  loyalty  to  their  b(!loved  ruler.  Their  fame  and  glory, 
notwithstanding  so  many  iinhai)py  circumstances,  not  only  had 
been  kept  uiustaiiuid.  but  had  been  brightened  by  deeds  of 
bravery,  and  still  more  by  v;.\eiii|)lary  discipline  under  mis- 
fortune. 


OFKKMAL  DOCrMKNTS 

IIRI.ATINII   TO 

OKNKHAL  lUEDEHKL'H  CAMl'AKJN  IN  A.MEUK'.V. 


(JKNKIIAr.  ItlEKKSKL  To  Till';  KKKIMNO  DCKK,  CIIAHLKS  OK  IIIUNS 
\VI(  K,  l.i'NKIIKIKi. 

Camiiuiimik,  N /)/(////«/•  Vi,  ITTM. 

Since  my  report  of  llxt  iiilddle  i)f  June,  no  allenilion  liiis  been 
niiule  in  llie  corps  ol'  iiis  serene  liijilincsc.  Desertion  iiureiised  jiirnin 
iluriiij;  the  liiller  part  of  June,  mid  liislcd  iilionl  liiurteen  diiys,  wiieii 
il  censed  a,i;ain,  of  its  own  accord.  Since  llien  no  case  lias  occurred. 
On  llie  contrary,  some  of  liie  deserters  returned.  Tliey  were  ainuni; 
tiiose  wild  deserted  last  winter  iind  lured  tiiemselvcH  out  to  worii  on 
tiie  flulH  liopinjr  in  lids  way  to  eH<'n|)e  Ihe  unpleasant  life  on  Winter 
hill.  They  have  now  returned  in  couse(|uenci'  of  the  jiardon  held 
out  liy  me  to  deserters  ^rcnerally.  The  chief  reason,  jierhaps,  for  the 
decrease  of  desertion  is  the  description  f;iven  Ity  those  deserters,  who 
have  relurned,  of  Ihe  treatment  they  received  durin.i;  their  altsence. 

lint  this  evil  no  soon<'r  vanished  than  il  was  replaced  l>y  another 
e(|ually  as  had,  viif. ;  the  irrcat  increase  of  deaths.  The  extreme  heat 
experieitccil  here  durinjf  the  day  (which  caimot  lie  compared  to  that 
of  (Jermany),  and  the  cool  niirhis  have  produced  dysentery  and  scor- 
butic allect  ions, u'eiu'rally  terminal  ini;  in  disea.ses  of  the  lunus.  Fevi'i's, 
also,  have  rolihed  us  within  llie  last  four  weeks  of  from  forty  to  lilly 
men.  .My  iidimlry  re,i;iineiil  and  the  jrreinidier  liattalion,  which  i;ol 
alonj;  the  best  in  this  respect  diuini?  Ihe  last  two  campaiiiiis,  have 
lately  had  the  nuist  deaths.  All  possible  precautions  are  taken 
against  these  danjf<'rous  diseases.  I  have  eslalili>lu'il  reirimciilal 
hospitals,  in  which  all  those  who  have  contai;ious  diseases  are  kept 
separate  from  the  rest.  Whenever  suit  meat  is  furnisheil  to  the  men, 
T  buy  fresh  nu'at  and  wholesome  vciretables  for  the  sick  ;  but  all  this 
does  not  brinji;  about  the  ilesircil  result. 

In  my  last  report  I  meiUioned  Dial  an  oflicer  had  been  sent  to 
Canada  in   April,  by   way  of  llalifa.v,  to  obtain  our  ba,ir,ija!,'e  and 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


^^^  m 


|M 

2.2 


M 

1.8 


1.25      1.4 

1.6 

-m 6"     — 

► 

Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


# 


:<\^ 


<^ 


:\ 


\ 


^^ 


6^ 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


i 


W    4 


186 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS  IlELATINO 


clothing;  but,  .'ilthough  a  long  time  has  elapsed  since  he  went,  he 
has  ncitlicr  returned,  nor  have  we  since  heard  from  him.  Should 
tiiesc  tilings  not  arrive  mj-self  and  the  regiments  would  he  placed  in 
a  had  fix  ;  for  I  do  not  know  how  tiie  soldiers  of  the  second  division 
would  be  iirotectcd  from  the  cold  weather.  They  have  been  wearing 
tlieir  uniforms  now  going  on  five  years.  Their  coats  are  so  worn  out 
that  it  is  not  possible  to  keep  them  any  longer  in  nspair.  Piece  after 
piece  of  cloth  actually  falls  from  them.  General  Phillips  lias  ordered 
blankets  from  New  York,  and  has  had  coats  made  for  the  English 
regiments  in  ease  the  clothing  should  not  arrive  from  Canada  before 
winter.  This,  however,  has  been  done  at  the  expense  of  the  com- 
manders of  regiments,  who,  by  English  custom,  cloth  their  own  men, 
and  who  owe  them  now  two  suits  of  clotliing. 

As  much  as  I  dislike  doing  anything  without  instructions  from 
your  liighness,  and  as  much  as  I  dislike  putting  you  to  expen.se,  yet 
under  the  circumstances  I  shall  have  to  adopt  similar  means.  To 
this  course  philanthropy  and  duty  alike  urge  me  if  I  would  preserve 
the  men  whom  you  have  committed  to  my  care.  But  I  will  wait 
until  the  last  moment,  and  I  am  convinced  that  your  highness  will 
not  be  displeased  wiih  me  for  doing  that  to  which  I  am  forced  by 
necessity. 

Our  condition  is  always  the  same;  nor  are  we  informed  whether 
measures  have  been  taken  on  the  part  of  England  for  the  ratification 
of  the  treaty.  We  have,  therefore,  no  prospect  of  delivery.  How 
happy  would  I  be  if  I  could  receive  but  a  single  letter  from  your 
highness  Avhicb  might  serve  as  a  guide  for  my  future  actions. 

You  no  loubt  know  of  all  the  events  which  have  occurred  in  the 
American  theatre  of  war,  better  than  I  can  tell  you,  everything  being 
done  to  prevent  good  and  reliable  news  from  reaching  us.  The 
march  of  Clinton  by  land  from  Philadelphia  to  New  York  through 
Jersey  —  which  is  considered  a  masterpiece  —  was  carried  out  with  the 
greatest  skill. 

You  have  no  doubt,  also  heard  of  the  affair  of  the  rear  guard  at 
Monmouth,  where  the  rebels  were  beaten,  hut  claimed  the  victory 
for  them.Helves  on  the  ground  that  the  English  rear  guard,  who 
whipped  the  American  general,  Lee,  retreated  in  the  evening.  The 
enemy  sustained  in  this  action  a  great  loss  in  dead  and  wounded, 
Avhile  Clinton  lost  but  few.  It  is  said,  howuver,  that  he  suffered 
greatly  by  the  desertion,  both  of  English  and  Germans  —  a  fact  that 
is  attributed  to  the  ac(iuaintances  whicJi  the  troops  picked  up  among 
the  Americans  during  their  stay  last  winter  in  the  province  of  Penn- 
sylvania. 

Scarcely  was  Clinton  nicely  located  in  New  York,  Staten  and 


TO  I.E.V.  lilEDESEL'S  CAMPAION. 


187 


Long  islands,  when  the  French  fleet,  consisting  of  twelve  sliip.s  of 
the  line,  and  four  frigates  under  Count  D'Estaing,  entered  the  harbor 
of  New  York.  Lord  Howe,  wlio  was  too  weak  (liis  largest  sliip 
carried  only  sixty-four  guns),  to  risk  a  general  engagement,  contented 
himself  with  defending  tlie  entrance  to  tlie  harbor.  In  this  he  was 
successful,  and  D'Estaing,  seeing  the  impossil)ility  of  success  in  tliis 
quarter  sailed  for  Rhode  island,  entered  the  harbor  of  Newport,  and 
blockaded  that  town  from  the  water  side.  At  tlie  same  time  a  hostile 
army,  under  Sullivan  (who  had  collected  it  at  Providence),  landed 
on  Rhode  island  and  attacked  repeatedly  but  vainly  the  English 
corps  under  Pigot,  who  was  in  a  fortitied  camp  near  Newport.  The 
situation  of  the  latter,  however,  was  extremely  critical,  and  there  was 
good  cause  for  alarm  unless  he  was  siieedily  reenforced. 

In  the  hope  of  creating  a  diversion  in  favor  of  Pigot,  Lord  ITowe 
with  his  fleet  made  his  appearance  before  the  harbor  of  Newport. 
D'Estaing,  misled  by  this  strategy,  sailed  out  of  the  harbor  with  the 
intention  of  giving  battle  to  the  English  admiral.  The  latter,  upon 
this,  retreated  to  a  certain  distance,  and  when  he  thought  that  he 
had  enticed  the  French  admiral  sufllciently  far,  turned  suddenly 
around,  and,  in  spite  of  his  weakness,  attacked  the  French  fleet,  used 
it  almost  up,  and  would  have  gained  a  complete  victory  had  not  a 
terrible  storm  come  uj)  (the  like  of  which  has  never  been  known  by 
the  oldest  inhabitant),  and  separated  and  dispersed  both  the  fleets.  Ad- 
miral D'Estaing  returned  to  Newport  after  eight  days.  Two  of  his  ships 
with  seventy-four  cannon  were  still  missing,  and  his  fleet  was  in  a  sad 
condition.  In  addition  to  having  on  board  many  sick  and  wounded, 
the  hulls  (jf  many  vessels  were  pierced  by  cannon  balls,  their  masts 
and  rudders  lost,  and  their  sails  and  tackling  destroyed.  He  imme- 
diately wrote  to  Sullivan  that  his  fleet,  in  consequence  of  the  engage- 
ment and  the  storm,  was  so  damaged  that  he  could  not  cooperate 
with  the  land  expedition  against  Rhode  island,  nor  oppo.sc  an  English 
fleet  that  was  expected.  On  the  contrary  he  would  be  obliged  to  go 
into  Boston  harbor  to  reflt.  Tlien  without  waiting  for  an  answer  from 
Sullivan,  he  sailed  into  the  harbor  of  Boston  in  a  miserable  condition. 

Meanwhile,  Sullivan,  who  had  continued  the  attack  on  Pigot  dur- 
ing the  absence  of  the  French  fleet,  but,  notwithstanding  tlie  flereeness 
of  his  attacks  and  the  vigor  of  his  cannonade,  had  accomplished 
nothing,  raised  the  siege.  While  departing,  he  was  attacked  by 
Pigot  (who  had  received  reenforcements  from  t'linton)  and  lost  more 
than  1,000  men,  darkness  alone  perniilting  him  to  cross  to  the  main- 
land, when  he  made  good  his  retreat  to  Providence. 

This  unsuccessful  expedition  has  caused  among  the   inhabitants 
great  discouragement,  and  an  intense  dislike  to  the  French. 
24* 


188 


OFFICIAL  DOCimFNTH  liBLATJJ^Q 


The  French  fleet  is  here  in  tlielmrbor,  Imt  tliere  being  no  materials 
for  its  rejiair,  espeeially  for  the  larger  masts,  it  is  said  that  the  fleet 
will  not  h(  able  to  put  to  sea  mitler  three  months.  D'Estahig tlesired 
to  liave  his  troops  garrisoned  in  Boston,  but  was  refused.  25,000 
pounds  of  flour  and  13,000  i)ounds  of  meat  have  to  be  furnished  daily 
to  the  French  fleet,  ^m^/s.  A  bloody  fight  occurred  in  Boston,  day 
before  yesterday,  between  the  French  and  Americans,  in  which  the 
French  ofticers  were  stabbed.  Mistrust,  jealousy  and  embittered 
hat  red  on  the  part  of  the  populace,  have  caused  such  a  disagreement 
between  the  allies  that  an  extremely  tart  correspondence  has  been 
entered  into,  and  a  recurrence  of  unpleasant  .scenes  may  be  expected. 

Admiral  Breymann  is  said  to  have  arrived  finally  (atler  being  so 
long  expected),  witli  twelve  ships  of  the  line,  and  to  have  united  with 
Lord  Howe,-  If  this  is  so,  the  latter's  fleet  now  consists  of  twenty- 
nine  sliijis  of  the  line  and  twenty-two  frigates.  It  is  also  rumored 
that  Clinton  has  sent  oft'  a  great  part  of  his  army  on  transports.  The 
future  will  explain  this  movement. 

In  my  last  report,  I  stated  that  the  endeavors  of  the  English  com- 
missioners have  been  fruitless,  and  tliat  all  proposals  for  peace  had 
been  rejected  by  congress. 

I  remain,  etc., 

RiEDESEL. 


*  * »  Virginia,  Mnrcli  22, 1779. 
As  there  is  an  opportunity  of  sending  otf  a  letter  by  the  return  of 
the  ships,  that  have  brought  to  us  our  effects  from  Canada,  I  report, 
that  the  troops  have  made  the  march  of  075  English  miles  from 
Cambridge  to  this  place,  in  tlie  roughest  season  of  the  year,  with  the 
most  glorious  endurance!  Desertion,  as  the  inclosed  report  will 
show,  though  considerable,  has  notlieen  as  great  as  I  expected,  from 
tlie  fact  of  our  having  had  to  march  through  a  district  of  over  150 
miles  long,  the  inhabitants  of  which  are  (Tcrmans  in  good  circum- 
stances, and  who  have  preserved  the  old  customs  of  the  fatherland. 
They  spent  money  and  used  all  possible  inducements  to  persuade 
our  soldiers  to  desert  and  remain  with  them.  The  troops  have 
manifested  the  best  discipline  on  the  march,  a  fact  wliich  is  spoken 
of  in  America  in  praise  of  the  men.  The  copy  of  the  two  orders 
issued  by  Plullii)s  in  regard  to  this,  as  also  his  report  to  Sir  Henrj' 
Clinton,  and  the  one  from  him  to  the  king,  will  prove  to  you  tiiat 
the  troops,  as  well  as  the  ofllicers,  merit  your  approbation  and  favor. 


niojribti!. 


•  :n 


TO  a  US'.  lilEDESEVS  CAMPAIGN. 


189 


In  consequence  of  the  nunor  that  the  province  of  Viri^inia  was 
infinitely  to  be  preferred  to  tliat  of  Massaclmsetts  bay,  wo  promised 
ourselves  that  our  soldi(!rs  would  be  placed  in  a  much  better  position 
than  in  Canil)ridge,  and  would  thus  be  repaid  for  the  fatigues  during 
tlieir  long  march.  But  greatly  to  our  surprise  we  find  it  the  reverse 
in  every  particular.  We  were  sent  to  one  of  the  most  out  of  the  way 
plantations  inhabited  by  poor  people,  where  there  is  no  communica- 
tion with  the  sea,  and  where  not  even  tlje  most  necessary  articles  for 
the  support  of  the  soldiers,  or  tlie  smallest  articles  of  clothing  could 
be  procured  for  money.  On  the  place  which  was  appointed  to  the 
men  for  dwellings,  formerly  stood  miserable  huts  called  barracks, 
but  wliich  were  now  in  ruins.  Here  the  soldiers  had  to  spend  over 
fourteen  days  in  the  snow,  which  was  from  two  to  three  feet  deep, 
until  tliey  had  built  theni.selves  huts  with  their  own  liitnds,  to  pro- 
tect them  somewliat  from  the  snow  and  rain. 

It  is  my  duty  to  report  to  your  higliness  the  care  and  discipline 
with  which  the  march  has  been  conducted  by  Brigadier  General  and 
Colonel  Specht  during  my  al)sence. 

Our  sick  were  transported  by  water  from  Cambridge,  and  will 
arrive  here  with  the  remainder  of  the  ships  that  contain  the  rest  ot 
our  baggage.  I  remain,  etc., 

RlEDESKIi. 


New  YoiiK,  February  34, 1780. 

It  is  impossible  for  me  to  describe  to  your  highness  my  disappoint- 
ment at  the  possible  loss  of  all  my  reports,  by  wliich  I  shall  be  deprived 
of  an  answer  to  all  my  several  inejuiries  which  I  have  repeated  in  every 
successive  report  since  my  last  one  of  1778,  from  Cambrivige.  These 
inciuiries  were  of  a  personal  nature  to  myself.  Tliey  were,  whether 
your  highness  considered  my  presence  of  more  importance  to  the 
troops  of  tlie  convention,  who  have  melted  down  to  800  men,  or  to 
the  active  troops  who  liave  increased  in  Canada  to  2,000  men ;  and 
further,  whether  I  shall,  in  the  latter  case,  request  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
for  a  particular  exchange,  or  in  the  former,  return  to  the  convention 
troops  in  Virginia.  And  although  it  will  be  hard  for  a  man  of  my 
age  to  spend  his  best  years  — which  might  be  used  for  the  good  of  the 
service  — in  mournful  captivity  with  a  handful  of  unarmed  men,  and 
in  a  climate  which  is  so  detrimental  to  my  health  that  I  shall  die  if  I 
return  thither,  yet  I  will  be  intluenced  neither  by  inclination  nor 
personal  interest,  but  will  implicitly  follow  the  wish  of  your  highness. 

There  is  once  more  a  new  prospect  for  a  general  exchange.  The 
captured  Ameiican  officers  here,  have  at  last,  after  repeated  recpiests, 


190 


OFFICIAL  DOVUUENTS  liELATINO 


m 


•  .1 


succeeded  in  iiulucini?  congress  to  propose  negotiations  for  a  general 
cartel.  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  on  his  part,  lias  consented  to  it;  and 
General  Phillips  is  ourtirst  connnissioner  assisted  bj'  Colonels  Gordon 
and  Nathern,  of  the  English  guard.  This  new  commissioner  will 
commence  business  on  the  1st  of  March,  at  Amboy.  If  they  had  to 
deal  with  men  of  faith  and  truth,  I,  myself,  could  believe,  yes  and 
even  assure  j^our  highness  that  this  matter  of  exchange  would  be 
accomplished,  and  that  your  troops,  who  have  bet;n  in  captivity  for 
the  last  two  and  a  half  years  since  the  broken  conveulion,  would 
soon  be  exchanged. 

But  alas  I  I  know  tlie  principles  of  congress  too  well.  It  would 
seem  as  if  that  body  makes  this  offer  only  with  a  A'iew  of  hushing 
the  many  voices  of  the  complaining  oflicers ;  and  knowing  well  that 
such  a  cartel  will  only  result  to  their  disadvantage  and  our  advantage, 
they  will  place  so  nuuiy  impediments  in  its  way,  and  ask  for  measures 
that  it  will  be  impossible  for  us  to  grant  without  violating,  tiie  honor 
and  interests  of  tlie  king,  that  the  cartel  will  be  defeated.  I  could 
wish  that  I  am  wrong  in  mj'  opinion. 

Since  my  last  report  of  December  3d,  in  which  I  announced  the 
departure  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton  with  1,200  men,  notiung has  occurred 
worth  mentioning.     No  news  concerning  him  has  yet  reached  us. 

A  cold  spell,  tlie  like  of  whicli  is  not  remembered  bj'  the  oldest 
inliabitant,  has  frozen  over  the  North  and  East  rivers  so  that  they 
can  be  crossed  with  wagons  and  artillery.  This  circumstance  greatly 
endangered  our  long  extended  chain  of  outposts  from  Paul's  hook. 
Staten  island,  Long  island,  King's  bridge  and  the  garrison  at  New 
York.  Each  of  these  posts  was  exposed  to  an  attack  of  the  enemy 
with  superior  numbers,  and  we  could  not  lose  one  of  tliesc  posts  and 
hold  New  York. 

At  lirst,  it  seemed  as  if  General  Washington  intended  to  profit  by 
this  favorable  ojiportunity.  He  ordered  Lord  Stirling  to  cross  on  the 
ice  from  Eiizabethtown  to  Staten  island,  but  want  of  order,  missing 
of  roads,  and  other  impediments  frustrated  the  fii"st  plan  of  the 
Americans,'  which  was  to  surprise  our  troops  on  Staten  island  at 
night ;  for  on  the  next  morning  tlicy  found  us  prepared  to  receive 
them  in  our  fortitications.  The  Americans  marched  up  against  it, 
but  did  not  feel  disposed  to  storm  it,  and  retired  again,  the  following 
night  to  Eiizabethtown,  after  robbing  the  poor  inhabitants  on  the 
island.  Brigadier  Sterling  took  several  prisoners  from  our  rear 
guard,  and  many  froze  to  death. 


'  It  will  be  observed  that  Rledesel  does  not  speak  so  frequently  of  the  Americana 
as  rebels,  as  he  did  iu  the  beginning  of  the  war.— Translator. 


TO  GEN.  RIEDEHEVS  VAMPAIO.S. 


191 


This  unsuccessful  undertaking,  on  tlie  part  of  Washington,  was  of 
great  benefit  to  us,  for  it  reminded  us  of  tlie  danger  in  wliicli  we 
were ;  and  our  defenses  were  consequently  increased  two  fold.  Tlie 
posts  of  Paul's  hook  and  Staten  island,  and  also  tlie  garrison  at  New 
York,  were  reenforced.  The  citizens  of  this  (!ity  otlVred  to  take  arms 
and  defend  it  themselves.  Five  thousand  of  them  were  accordingly 
armed.  New  York  being  thus  safe,  we  began  to  act  on  the  otfensire 
with  detachments. 

A  detachment  from  Staten  island  went  twice  to  Elizabethtown, 
driving  away  the  post  there  each  time.  A  detachment  from  Paul's 
hook  did  the  same  with  one  at  Newark.  General  ^latliew  at  King's 
bridge,  detached  Colonel  Gordon,  with  400  men,  to  White  Plains, 
who  either  killed  or  captured  a  post  of  tlie  enemy  consisting  of  a 
colonel  and  250  men.  These  small  expeditions  brought  us  in  1 
colonel,  3  staff  otlicers,  between  20  and  aO  other  (jflicers,  and  upward 
of  300  prisoners.  General  Washington,  also,  according  to  all  the 
intelligence  we  received,  threatened  us  with  a  general  attack,  lost  his 
offensive  spirit  entirely,  and  since  then,  notwithstanding  the  best 
opportunities,  has  undertaken  nothing. 

Washington  has  also  refused  me  permission  to  send  Lieutenant 
Cleve  to  Germany. 

I  again  ask  for  orders  as  to  my  future  conduct, 

and  remain,  etc., 

RlEDESEL. 


TUB  HEREDITAKY  riUNCB  TO  GENERAL  RlEDESEL. 

SchSnkwald,  June  11,  1778. 

llight  Honorable  Sir,  and  Highly  Respected  Major  General: 

I  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  your  honor's  letter,  dated  April  the 
2d,  on  the  10th  of  this  month  at  tliis  place.  I  thank  you  very  much 
for  it.  Be  assured  that  I  heartily  sympathize  with  you  in  everything 
which  has  occurred  to  you  in  this  unhappy  American  expedition, 
and  exceedingly  lament  the  sad  fate  of  our  brave  men  who  have 
merited  such  glorious  encomiums  from  their  worthy  chief  But  do 
not  in  the  least  doubt  that  I  do  full  justice  to  your  conduct,  your 
judgment,  and  the  noble  zeal  which  you  have  shown,  under  the 
most  crhical  circumstances,  for  the  welfare  of  the  corps.  Be  assured, 
also,  that  I  appreciate  tiie  pains  you  have  taken  in  the  preservation 
of  this  corps  in  their  present  lamentable  situation,  and  your  energetic 
and  unselfish  exertions  in  their  behalf    I  shall,  most  gladly,  use 


r^ 


192 


OFFICIAL  noCUitENTS  liELATINO 


every  opportunity  to  mnnitiiHt  to  you  by  my  actions  this  sentiment ; 
iind,  it  slmll  always  be  my  dcliglit  to  be  of  any  service  to  tlie  corps 
under  your  command. 

WiHliiug  you  all  possible  success,  and  assuring  you  of  my  perfect 
esteem, 

I  remain,  etc., 

Chakles, 
Crown  Prince  of  Brunswick  and  LUneburg. 


CHARLES  WILLIAM  FERDINAND  TO  GENERAL  RIEDESEL. 

BuuNswiCK,  May  29,  1780.' 
My  Dear  Major  General : 

It  lias  given  me  great  pleasure  to  hear,  through  Captain  Cleve, 
from  yourself  and  the  (!apturcd  troops;  and  I  beg  you  to  feel  assured 
that  you  have  my  liearty  sympathy  in  all  your  dilHculties.  I  consider 
it,  moreover,  my  special  duty  to  inform  you  that  the  people  of 
Brunswick,  and,  in  fact,  the  entire  judgment  of  Germany,  do  you 
perfect  justice.  I  cannot  omit  here  remarking  that  I  am  entirely 
satisfied  with  Captain  Cleve  and  his  whole  conduct  while  lierj.  He 
has  given  me,  in  every  respect,  the  most  perfect  satisfaction.  Wtth 
the  best  wishes  for  the  welfare  of  yourself  and  the  troops,  and  with 
the  assurance  of  my  high  esteem. 

I  remain,  always, 

Your  most  faithful  friend  and  servant, 
CiiAULES  W1LLIA.M  Ferdinand. 
To  Major  General  Von  Riedesel. 


GENERAL  RIEDESEL  TO  CHARLES  WILLIAM  FERDINAND. 

BUOOKLYN  ON  LoNG  ISLAND,  Jwm  6,  1781. 

I  closed  my  last  report  of  military  operations  in  this  quarter,  with 
the  victory  of  Lord  Cornwallis,  near  Guilford  Court  House,  all  the 
forces  of  General  Green  —  the  latter  of  whom  was  completly  shat- 
tered. The  destination  of  the  corps,  under  Major  General  Phillips, 
was  then  unknown  ;  but  I  am  now  able  to  report  that  he  has  gone, 
with  the  largest  part  of  his  corps,  through  a  complicated  manoeuvre, 


'  Answered  September  10, 1780. 


TO  (ih:\.  lllKI)KSh:VH  CAMI'AUm. 


193 


having  inarched  first  hito  the  vlchiity  of  Williamshurg  and  York  in 
Virginia,  anil  thence  to  Petershiirg,  wlu^rc  lie  dispersed  a  body  of 
1,500  rehcls,  witii  llic  loss  of  a  few  innidrcd  men.  Tlicncc  lie  marched 
against  Iliclimond,  when  he  partly  destroyed  llic  enemy's  warehonses 
of  toliacco,  ammnnilion,  provisions,  etc.  He  also  burned  a  few  of 
the  public  buildings,  ships  and  bateaux.  The  loss,  sutl'ered  by  the 
rcbel.s  in  this  excursion,  is  immense.  All  the  magazines  for  Green's 
army  were  destroyed,  and  all  the  important  articles  destined  for  the 
French  fell  into  our  hands.  They  are  tliur  almost  entirely  deprived 
of  the  means  with  which  to  continue  tlie  war  against  iis  in  the  south. 

While  on  his  march  to  Portsmouth  (our  established  post  in  Vir- 
ginia), General  Phillips  received  a  letter  from  Lord  Cornwallis 
informing  him  that  the  writer,  intended  marching  from  VVilminglon 
to  Petersburg,  and  inviting  his  cooperation  in  this  movement. 
General  Phillips,  therefore,  turned  back  to'vard  Petersburg,  where  he 
came  very  nearly  inten^epting  General  Lafayette,  who,  on  learning 
of  Pl'lilip's  advance,  retreated  to  Uichmond  in  the  greatest  haste,  A 
large  number  of  adjutants,  aid  de  camps,  (luartermasters  and 
engineers  were  found  and  captured  at  Petersburg.  Here,  General 
Phillips,  in  expectation  of  the  arrival  of  Cornwallis,  established  him- 
self, but  on  the  10th  of  May,  he  was  taken  dangerously  ill  of  intlam- 
matory  fever,  and  died  on  the  loth  of  the  same  month,  to  the  greatest 
sorrow  of  all  who  knew  him  cither  personally  or  by  reputation. 

The  commanding  general,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  who,  as  I  believe, 
had,  some  time  ago,  a  strong  notion  of  going  him.self  to  Virginii', 
sent  four  additional  battalions  from  New  York,  viz ;  two  from  An- 
spach,  and  the  ITtii  and  34th  regiments  as  rcenforcements  for  the 
corps  in  Virginia.    These  arrived  on  the  34th  of  May,  at  Petersburg. 

Cornwallis's  Theatre  dela  Cfiierir  is  bloodier,  and,  to  the  eyesof  tlie 
people,  seenis  greater  and  more  heroic  than  that  of  otiier  generals 
elsewhere ;  but  the  extremely  largi  territory  on  the  one  hand,  and 
the  enthusiasm  of  a  few  of  the  dilferent  partisans  on  the  other,  have, 
since  the  battle  of  Camden,  split  up  the  army  in  such  a  manner,  tliat, 
occasionally,  we  have  suffered  here  and  there  unpleasant  affronts. 
In  the  hope  of  finding  North  Carolina  ready  to  take  up  arms  for  us 
in  large  numbers,  Cornwallis  was  induced  to  leave  all  his  communi- 
cations and  march  into  the  centre  of  tliat  province.  General  Green 
and  all  the  rest  of  the  rebels  retreated  before  him.  Our  army  sur- 
mounted all  possible  difticulties  and  fatigues;  but  the  number  of  sick 
soon  weakened  it  more  than  it  was  strengthened  by  additions. 
Indian  corn,  merely  ground  between  two  stones,  was  the  subsistence 
of  the  soldiers,  and  the  month  of  March,  the  army  of  Cornwallis 
scarcely  numbered  l,r)00  men. 


I  ( 


T.K 


OFFlilM,  IXK'VMEXrs  KEIATISII 


ii 


McMiiwliilo,  Ocncntl  Orccn  rallied  all  the  troops  that  ronld  lie 
(•<)ll('cl(il  ill  Virginiii  and  all  tliosi'  lliat  (it'iicral  Wat«liiii;;toii  could 
send  liiiii  from  his  army,  and,  liclicving  that  Cornwallis  wan  sutll- 
ciciilly  wcakciKMl  and  in  iiccd  of  snlisistcncc,  crossed  the  1{oanok(^ 
and  adviincecl  airainsl  the  latter.  Cornwallis  then  perceived  that  he 
had  advanced  too  liir,  and  that  North  Carolina  would  not  take  iip 
arms  airainst  the  rehelstothe  extent  \\y\  and  every  one  had  heeii  led 
to  e.\|H'et.  He  believed  it  too  ha/ardoiis,  if,  indeed,  it  was  not  im- 
possilile  to  retreat  to  Canideu  —  a  distance  of  ov<'r  TiOO  miles  —  with 
a  handful  of  men  and  hefore  a  refreshed  army,  and  he,  therefore, 
bravely  determined  to  attack  General  Green.  lie  did  ho,  bent  iiiiii, 
captured  his  artillery,  and  made  several  i)risoners.  Hut,  although 
(iri'di's  army  was  dispersed,  and  tht^  country  laid  open  to  us,  the 
position  of  Cornwallis  was  no  better  than  before,  llf-  had  now 
about  ftOO  men  wounded,  with  no  wa{;;ons  to  carry  them.  This 
circumstanee,  tofiether  with  a  weary  army  and  a  scarcity  of  jirovi- 
sions,  caused  Cornwallis  to  nnireh  to  AVilmington  near  Cap(!  Fair 
where  some  sliips  laden  with  supplies  for  the  army  had  arrived  from 
Charleston.  He  arrived  at  that  i)lace  safely,  and  refreshed  his  army. 
Allhoujrh  CJornwallis  knew  that  Green  had  retreated  beyond  the 
mountains  into  South  Carolina,  thus  endaniterin^-  the  posts  be  iiad 
left  behind  in  South  Carolina  at  (Camden,  Ninety-si.\,  Augusta, beyond 
the  t'on,u;aree,  and  at  Georgetown,  he,  nevertheless,  resolved  to  march 
eastward,  and  unite  with  the  troops  of  Phillips  at  Petersburg.  This 
he  accomplished  on  the  IDth  of  ^May.  Time  must  show  what  reascms 
Cornwallis  had  (or  pursuing  this  course,  and  what  he  will  now  do. 

Tlie  present  situation  in  South  Carolina  is  as  follows;  Lord 
Hawdon,  with  a  single  regiment  of  infantry  and  a  few  combined 
detachments,  is  fortified  at  Camden.  A  detachment  of  a  few  hundred 
men,  for  the  communication  with  Charlestown,  is  beyond  the  C!on- 
garee  river.  Another  detachment,  consisting  of  provincials,  is  at 
Ninety-si.\;  while  Augusta  to  the  let1,  and  Georgetown  to  the  right, 
are  occupied  by  ourtroojis.  (Jeneral  Green, whose  army  was  entirely 
dispersed  at  the  battle  of  Guildford  Court  House,  has  rallied  another 
army  of  ;(,00()  to  4,000  men  beyond  the  mountains,  and  marched  against 
Camden,  where  he  besieged  Rawdon  for  a  few  days.  This  brave 
young  man  came  out  with  his  garriscm,  attacked  Green,  and  forced 
him  to  retreat.  The  remainder  of  our  above  named  posts  are  all  in 
great  danger,  and  the  communication  between  Lord  Rawdon  and 
Charlestown  very  much  threatened.  Should  Green  persist  in  his 
desire  to  conciiier  South  Carolina  (Charlestown  excepted),  it  is  not 
impossil)le  he  may  do  so  while  Cornwallis  is  at  so  great  a  distance 
from  liim.    In  truth  Rawdon's  situation  is  very  precarious, 


TO  OK.V.  ItlKnmKVS  (JAMPAIOff. 


106 


It  1h  easy  to  Judjto  of  tlic  Hitimlion  of  New  York  uiid  the  tmups 
under  8ir  Iltiiiry  Clinton,  by  y\w  (Iclmlitnciils  sent  over  tlicn:  from 
here  from  time  to  time.  It  in  more  iippropriati*  to  cull  it  ii  pirrison 
of  New  York  and  environs  tliiin  itn  uriny ;  and,  until  the  arrival  of 
the  expected  rcenforcementM  from  Hnjiland,  neilher  a  llannilml  nor  a 
Turenne  conld  orij;lnate  or  execute  olfensive  operations  in  this  part 
of  North  Americ^a.  A  portion  of  th(^  French  troops  from  Uhode 
island  have  formed  a  junction  witli  W'ashinjiton  on  the  Croton  river 
toward  the  east  side  of  the  North  river,  and  act  as  though  they 
designed  assuming  the  otlensive.  I  believe  it  is  still  uncertain  (per- 
haps it  is  not  yet  decided),  what  Sir  Henry  Clinton  intends  doing 
after  the  arrival  of  the  reenforceinents  from  England  —  how  the  two 
generals  will  agree  upon  different  points  —  and  where  the  ^"'//*(<'(r/«< 
will  be. 

Admiral  Arbuthnot  cruises  between  Rhode  island  and  tlie  C!hosa- 
peako  bay  with  everything  that  can  be  called  a  war  vessel.  He  has 
three  objects  in  view.  To  prevent  a  hostile  Heet  entering  tlie  Chesa- 
peake bay ;  to  watch  the  manceuvres  of  tlie  French  fleet  near  Rhode 
island,  and  to  intercept  a  French  fleet,  said  to  consist  of  thirty  trans- 
ports, with  troops,  magazines,  provisions,  etc.,  and  to  be  escorted  by  a 
man-of-war  of  sixty-four  guns,  nnd  three  frigates.  R  is  hoped  for  llie 
good  of  the  cause,  that  Admiral  Arbuthnot  will  so(m  go  to  England ; 
nor  will  the  expeditions  on  land  and  on  sea  ever  be  harmonious  until 
this  change  takes  place;. 

Admiral  Rhodes  seems  to  have  fallen  in  love  with  the  treasures  of  St. 
Eustace,  and,  with  General  Brougham,  has  his  quarters  there  still.  He 
sent  Admiral  Hood  with  eleven  ships  of  (he  line  westward  to  destroy  a 
fleet  which  was  expected  from  France,  and  which  was  said  to  consist 
of  many  merchant  vessels,  under  tlie  escort  of  a  few  men-of-war 
and  frigates.  But  instead  of  capturing  a  cpiantity  of  liooty,  he  was 
received  by  twenty-two  ships  of  the  line  and  a  host  of  transports 
filled  with  men,  and  had  hard  work  to  escape.  A  naval  engagement 
took  place,  in  which  a  large  number  were  killed  on  both  sides,  and 
three  of  Hood's  ships  were  badly  damaged.  He  was  so  fortunate, 
however,  as  not  to  lose  a  single  sliii).  For  wliat  purpose  these  large 
reenforcements  arc  sent  to  the  West  Indies  by  France,  and  what  the 
result  it  will  be,  time  alone  will  show.  I  fear  they  are  aiming  at 
the  south  side  of  this  continent,  and  our  establishments  in  that 
quarter.  It  is  a  problem  to  me,  how  the  secretary  and  Lord  Sand- 
wich can  permit  a  French  fleet  to  go  to  sea  without  at  once  sending 
adequate  reenforcements  to  those  places  threatened  by  it.  We 
always  lose  the  time  for  a  campaign  ;  and  the  blood  of  many  men 
has  to  pay  for  this  neglect. 
26* 


, 


190 


OFFICIAL  UOVUMKNTS  KFLATINU 


'IMi 


Tills  iiewH,  in  rcpird  to  our  situation,  which  hiis  been  jjuthcrcd  In 
every  wiiy,  iiiul  which  is  entirely  relliiltie,  I  send  to  your  serene  hi>,'h- 
ness  for  your  priviile  use.  It'  it  is  not  so  understood  it  niivy  prove 
detrimentid  to  nie. 

1  remain,  etc., 

HlKHKHKI,. 

P.  8.  The  dispatches  not  luivinji;  ns  yet  gone,  I  have  still  an  oppor- 
tunity of  addin;?,  tluit  yesterday,  the  10th  instant,  Hrlgadier  Arnold, 
with  his  own  and  the  Robertson  regiment  of  the  i)rovincials,  arrived 
here  from  Virginia,  and  brouglit  the  intelligence  that  Cornwallls 
letl  Petersburg  to  attack  tlie  Martiuise  de  Lafayette  at  Uichmond. 
The  latter,  however,  at  his  approach,  fell  l)aek,  crossed  the  James 
river,  nuule  u  halt  between  the  Uavana  and  Flouvana  rivers,  twenty- 
eight  miles  from  Hiehmond.  It  is  said  tlial  C'ornwallis  intends  pur- 
suing Idm  still  further  and  thus  become  nuister  of  Virginia. 


M-ri'TKHS   Ol-'   (IKNEUAL   KIEDEHEL   TO   THE   DUKE    t'EUDINANI)   OF 
DUrNSWICKLlJNEBrKO. 

Camhiudok,  March  7, 1778. 

I  lind  the  pleasure  of  receiving,  by  the  way  of  Rhode  island,  your 
letter  of  the  ad  of  last  month,  which  you  were  so  kind  as  to  send  me. 

I  wish  I  could  add  to  this  letter  a  continuation  of  the  journal, 
filled  with  heroic  deeds  and  conquests ;  but,  unfortunately,  fate  has 
cut  asunder  the  thread  of  glory,  and  notliing  is  left  us  but  to  prove 
publicly,  at  the  proper  time,  that  this  misfortune  was  not  brought 
upon  UB  by  any  cause  of  mine  or  of  the  troops  Avho  are  under  my 
command — tho:*e  troops,  who  have  fought  four  times  so  gloriously, 
and  were  praised  in  the  published  order  of  the  day, 

The  trooi)s  are  sutfering  great  tortures  in  their  present  position ; 
but  they  bear  it  with  great  firmness,  and  without  murmuring.  They 
are  (julet,  and  commit  no  excesses.  Congress  refuses  us  permission 
to  return  to  England ;  and  unless  it  changes  its  resolution,  we  shall 
have  to  remain  in  this  lamentable  situation  until  peace  is  made. 

Nothing  can  console  us  but  the  sympathy  of  the  i)ublic  and  our 
countrymen.  As  for  me,  it  will  be  my  only  comfort  if  I  can  flatter 
myself  that  I  retain  the  favor  of  our  serene  highness  in  the  future. 
To  merit  this  Is  my  sole  endeavor. 

I  remain,  etc., 

RlEUESEL. 


To  Uh:S.  lilUDKHEUH  VAMI'MUN. 


197 


CvMiiHiUdi:,  M'irch  2(1.  177H. 

Ah  C'oloiu'l  Ainslnitlii'r  rctiiriiH  to  Eiijflaiul  f)ii  piirolc,  I  cmhiiuu! 
tlie  opporlimity  U)  HL'iid  your  liij^lincHs  iiiiotlicr  Icltcr.  I  trust  Hint 
tlic  letter,  with  the  (lociimenlH  l)eloiiu;lii;i:  to  it,  •.vhich  I  sent  by  Ciiplaiu 
Green  iil  thi;  beginniiij,'  of  this  month,  Iuih  niilely  arrived.  The  otllcer 
whom  General  Hiirgoyne  sent  to  amgrefs  to  protest  iigiiinnt  its 
resolution  not  to  nllow  the  convention  troops  to  depart  —  has  returned 
with  tlie  curt  answer,  "  Tliat  congress  will  not  alter  in  any  way  its 
resolution  until  the  king  himself  lias  i'atilie<l  the  convention."  Thus, 
our  unhai)py  fate  is  now  settled,  and  there  is  no  otiier  hope  of 
escaping  tills  slavery  but  that  of  an  e.xdiange,  which  may  l)i.'  put  otf 
a  long  while. 

Not  knowing  what  may  bo  reported  in  P^ngland  in  regan'  i  >  our 
sad  situation,  I  have  \vritten  the  following  article  for  the  uiko  of 
Justifying  the  conduct  of  myself  and  the  troops  in  the  "i'.'lit  of  your 
highness;  and  to  prove  tliat  it  contains  nolhing  else  •  ■  i  the  truth, 
I  have  had  all  of  the  staff  olHcers  sign  it  atler  a  ccisultation.  T  keep 
tlie  i\  ■'  ul  for  the  sake  of  warding  otf  all  the  attacks  vthi(.li  u.  ly  bo 
made  on  our  troojis,  or  in  case  the  general  should  seek  lo  luy  tlie 
blame  on  them,  which,  however,  I  do  not  believe  lu  will  ilo.  If 
none  of  these  surmises  be  correct,  and  nothing  of  tlic  kind  takes  p':ice, 
I  will  burn  the  document  without  making  any  further  use  of  it,  and 
sliall  take  the  liberty  of  asking  the  same  of  your.serene  highness.' 

I  have  thought  it  my  duty  to  answer  this,  and  Colonel  Amstruthcr 
will,  as  soon  as  he  arrives  in  England,  insert,  in  aiy  name,  in  the 
Loiuloii  Ncw»  the  following  answer : 


CAMunimiK,  March  30,  1778. 
To  our  great  surprise  we  have  read  in  the  Loiuhn  Newn  an  infamous 
lie  in  reference  to  the  conduct  of  the  German  troops,  under  the  com- 
mand of  General  Burgoyne,  to  the  etfect,  that  many  Germans  deserted, 
and  many  did  not  fight  with  bravery.  It  is  not  necessary  to  answer 
such  a  slander,  since  the  praises  wliicii  have  twice  been  given  publicly 
by  General  Burgoyne  to  the  German  troops  in  regard  to  their  bravery 
and  their  good  conduct,  proves  the  revei-se ;  while  the  lists  of  the 
losses  of  the  army  during  the  last  campaign  will  sliow  that  at  least 
three  Englishmen  have  deserted  to  one  German. 


'  This  document  Ih  tlio  same  tliat  is  piiblislicd  In  full  In  ttic  body  of  tliis  vvorlt, 
under  the  name  of  Riedcscl's  inll'tary  Memoir.  A  portion  of  it  is  aiso  fjivcn  in 
The  tetters  and  Journals  of  Mr«.  General  Jiiedesel.—  Translator. 


^i  ; 


I 


198 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS  RELATING 


The  journal  and  the  reports  of  the  corps,  I  will  send  at  the  first 
opportunity. 

I  remain,  etc., 

RiKDESEL. 


Cambkidge,  May  9, 1778. 

Although  I  fear  that  I  shall  seem  presumptuous  in  trouhling  your 
highness  with  meaningless  letters,  the  consequence  of  the  barren  and 
dr(!ary  situation  in  which  we  unfortunately  arc  at  present,  yet  my 
devotion  to  your  highness,  and  the  remembrance  of  favors  received, 
urge  me  to  go  beyond  the  limits  of  duty. 

Our  sad  situation  —  without  the  least  prospect  of  a  change  — 
desertion,  which  arises  among  the  troops  from  misery,  inactivity, 
and  the  persuasions  of  many  recruiters  and  the  humiliating  treat- 
ment to  which  we  are  every  moment  subjected  by  the  inhabitants  of 
this  country,  oppress  my  spirits  and  enervate  my  body  to  such  an 
extent  that  I  doubt  whether  I  shall  ever  again  see  my  fatherland. 
Surely  I  sliall  not,  unless  some  happy  accident  extricates  us  from  this 
labyrinth.  How  fortunate  I  would  be,  had  I  never  seen  this  conti- 
nent. 

We  amuse  ourselves  in  our  inactivity,  with  all  kinds  of  news,  the 
most  interesting  of  which  is,  a  declaration  of  war  between  France 
and  England,  the  expected  arrival  of  commissioners  from  England 
to  make  peace  with  the  Americans,  and  the  recall  of  Lord  Howe, 
with  the  rumor  that  Lord  Amherst  will  assume  the  command  in 
America.    Time  will  show  whether  these  news  items  are  true  or  not. 

Major  Latterlohe,  who  was  the  duke's  agent  in  England,  shines 
here  as  deputy  quarter  master  generfil  to  Washington.  He  had  the 
audacity  to  send  his  compliments  to  me ;  but  I  returned  him  the 
answer  that  I  had  no  acquaintance  with  a  man  of  his  character. 

I  held  it  my  duty  to  communicate  to  Lord  Germain  my  remarks 
concerning  the  document  of  General  Burgoyne,  referring  to  the  last 
campaign.  My  brother  will  hand  this  to  you,  and  you  will  be  con- 
vinced that  it  is  the  naked  truth.  It  is  sad  that  English  pride  does 
not  allow  the  least  satisfaction  to  foreign  troops,  even,  when  accord- 
ing to  all  principles  of  right  and  justice  they  deserve  it;  as,  for 
instance,  was  the  case  of  our  soldiers  in  the  last  campaign. 

I  remain,  etc., 

RiEOESEL. 


dMh 


ro  QEN.  SIEDESEVS  CAMPAION. 


199 


Cambridge,  June  9, 1778. 

Your  gracious  letter  of  September  has  given  me  tlie  greatest  joy, 
HoAv  clianged  is  our  situation,  since,  happy  in  the  tliouglit  of  being 
conquerors,  we  expected  to  meet  General  Howe  in  Albany,  and  hoped 
we  would  finish  the  war  with  that  campaign !  In  place,  however, 
of  such  splendid  prospects  we  were  surrounded  and  surrendered,  and 
the  fortune  of  war  placed  us  in  our  present  sad  situation.  The  only 
consolation  in  our  misfortune  is,  that  he  who  sacrificed  us,  and  who 
was  the  cause  of  our  calamities,  has  been  recalled.  But  in  my  pre- 
sent unhappy  condition,  I  cannot  trust  myself  to  speak.  I  have  no 
other  news  to  mention  to  your  highness,  e.Kcept  the  movements  of 
General  Clinton,  who  is  a  talented  and  enterprising  man,  which  will 
decide  our  fate.  It  is  sa'd  that  he  has  already  opened  the  campaign 
with  success,  but  this  is  all  rumor,  for  the  correctness  of  which  I  dare 
not  vouch. 

I  wish  and  hope  that  our  liberation  may  soon  enable  me  to  write 
longer  and  more  interesting  letters.  For  the  present  I  must  close, 
assuring  you,  etc. 

RiEDESEL. 


Albany,  October  21, 1778.' 
I  suppose  that  your  highness  has  seen  the  letter  from  my  master, 
the  duke,  containing  the  most  sad  intelligence  in  regard  to  our  army, 
and  that  portion  of  the  Brunswick  troops  that  is  with  it.  My  con- 
science is  clear.  I  was  only  a  subordinate  general  on  that  occasion. 
No  one  asked  my  opinion,  and  I  could  do  nothing  else  than  carry  out 
the  orders  given  me.  The  damage  it  does  to  my  name  and  that  of 
my  troops,  is  all  that  grieves  me.  My  soul  is  yet  so  sad,  that  I  am 
unable  either  to  give  a  detailed  report,  or  send  a  journal.  As  soon, 
however,  as  we  arrive  at  Boston,  I  shall  have  the  honor  to  send  you 
a  faithful  account  of  the  whole  affair.  I  may  possibly  be  blamed, 
and  since  those  who  are  absent  are,  of  course,  always  in  the  wrong, 
much  will  be  said  against  me.  But  I  am  convinced  that  your 
highness  will  stand  by  me  until  the  whole  matter  is  investigated, 
and  until  it  is  evident  that  the  entire  cause  of  this  misfortune  is  due 
solely  to  poor  combinations,  and  the  gracious  purpose  of  General 
Burgoyne."  I  remain,  etc., 

RiEDESEL. 


'ThlB  Is  the  date  as  given  in  tlie  German  edition,  but  of  course  it  is  an  error  — 
the  true  date  being  1777,  the  year  previous.—  Translator. 

'^  The  meanintv  of  the  latter  clause  in  this  last  sentence  is  not  clear,  unless  it  is 
intended  for  irony.-  Translat<rr. 


n 

.nil. 


200 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS  liELATINO 


Camuhidge,  Ncrtember  10, 1778. 

Eight  diiys  ago  I  received  your  gracious  letter,  for  which  I  thank 
you.  I  have  talien  tlic  liberty  of  sendiug  you  several  letters  since  the 
unlucliy  day  wliicli  witnessed  tlic  beginning  of  our  captivity.  Even 
if  only  a  few  of  these  letters  have  readied  you,  you  will  know  what 
has  occurred  since  our  unlucky  campaign,  also  the  reason  of  this 
campaign  and  the  unfortimate  state  of  affairs  resulting  from  it.' 
I  shall  rejoice  very  much,  if  I  receive  but  one  letter  from  your  high- 
ness this  year  alter  the  news  of  our  misfortune  has  reached  you." 

Congress  having  emphatically  declared,  that  it  would  not  liberate 
the  convention  troops  unless  the  convention,  concluded  between 
General  Burgoyne  and  General  Gates,  was  ratified  by  his  British 
majesty,  and  the  authority,  even,  conferred  by  the  king  upon  the 
commissioners  having  been  rtjected,  all  hope  of  liberation  has 
vanished,  nothing  save  a,  decisive  victory  by  Clinton  can  bring  us 
hope.    That  might  bring  about  an  exchange. 

Our  troops,  with  the  e.xceptitm  of  some  vagabonds.who  havedescrted, 
have  borne  all  their  misery  and  wretchedness  with  the  most  noble  firm- 
ness. But  since  congress  has  determined,  under  a  frivolous  pretext,  to 
send  our  troops  from  here  to  Virginia,  a  journey  of  700  English  miles, 
in  the  middle  of  wniter,  it  is  uncertain  whether  they  will  bear  their 
fatigues  with  the  same  endurance.  It  is  equally  uncertain,  how 
many  I  shall  succeed  in  bringing  with  me  to  our  new  place  of 
destination. 

Wc  have  the  best  of  verbal  promises  from  General  Clinton,  that  ho 
will  use  his  utmost  endeavors,  to  have  us  exchanged  as  soon  as 
possible.  Time  will  show  how  soon  he  will  be  able  to  carry  out  his 
promises ;  and  should  I  in  a  little  while  have  the  pleasure  of  writing 
you  from  New  York,  then  its  contents  will  be  more  interesting,  and 
its  style  less  melancholy. 

Our  situation  being  so  miserable,  and  that  which  occurs  among  us 
being  of  so  little  interest,  I  have  ceased  keeping  a  journal,  but  I  will 
begin  it  again  as  soon  as  we  are  liberated,  and  I  will  not  fail  to  once 
more  forward  it  to  you  with  the  same  punctuality  as  of  old.  I  have 
sent  to  my  master,  the  duke,  several  plans  of  positions,  battles,  etc., 
relating  to  the  campaign  of  1777,  which  I  am  confident  he  has  shown 
to  your  highness.    The  fear  that  the  package  might  be  too  large  to  be 


'  Dnkc  Kcrdiimnd  wrote  on  the  margin  of  this  letter :  "  They  have  all  reached 
me,  and  I  liavo  also  answerwl  them." 

»  The  duke  wrote  again  on  the  margin :  "  It  is  strange  that  no  letter  of  this  year 
(1778),  lias  yet  reached  him." 


i'.'*. 


TO  0K\.  R1EI)ESEL\S  CAMPAIGN. 


201 


smuggled  to  New  York  by  an  officer,  prevented  nic  from  sending  you 
a  duplicate  of  them. 

My  wife  and  children,  v/ho,  thank  God,  are  well,  desire  to  be 
remembered  to  your  highness.  I  am  anxious  to  see  how  they  will 
endure  the  long  journey  hence  to  Virginia ;  but  I  have  confidence  that 
the  same  providence,  who  has  so  wonderfully  protected  them  hitherto, 
will  also  care  for  them  in  the  future. 

I  remain,  etc., 

KlEDESEIi. 


New  YoiiK,  December  8, 177$). 

On  my  arrival  here,  the  29th  of  November,  I  was  so  fortuiftitc  as  to 
receive  two  letters  from  your  highness ;  one,  dated  November  23d, 
1778,  and  the  other,  February  11th,  1779.  These  are  the  first  letters  I 
have  received  since  your  highness  learned  of  the  unfortunate  capitula- 
tion at  Saratoga.  I  thank  you  for  the  sympathy  you  manifest,  and  for 
the  assurance  of  your  favor,  whicli  is  dearer  to  me  than  all  else. 

You  tell  me,  that  one  must  have  firmness  under  misfortune.  I 
have  endeavored  to  keep  up  good  heart  in  the  presence  of  the  public 
and  the  troops,  as  though  I  had  forgotten  our  misfortune  ;  but  grief 
has  taken  deep  root  in  my  heart,  and  it  is  altogether  impossible  for 
me  to  forget  this  calamity.  My  constitution  has  entirely  changed, 
and  I  have  scarcely  seen  a  well  day  since  the  event. 

I  do  not  understand  why  the  plans  have  not  been  transmitted  to 
your  highness  as  I  requested.  If  Gerlach  can  gatlier  anything  from  liis 
Bruillmis,  the  same  plans  shall  be  finished  again  during  this  winter. 
I  will  send  them  myself  to  you,  when  completed. 

You  will  wonder  at  receiving  this  letter  from  New  York,  dated  in 
the  month  of  September.'  While  I  was  in  the  back  settlements  at  a 
watering  place.  General  Phillips  wrote  me  by  an  express  messenger, 
that  it  was  the  desire  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  that  he  and  I  should  goto 
New  York  upon  parole.  We  hastily  entered  upon  our  journey  and 
are  now  here,  without  knowing  definitely  what  is  to  be  done  with 
me,  or  whether  my  gracious  master  will  consent  to  my  absence  from 
the  troops.  Time  and  circumstances  will  enlighten  me  in  regard  to 
everything,  which  is  now  a  mystery. 

The  opening  of  the  campaign  in  this  quarter  was  nothing  less  than 
brilliant."    Sir  Henry  Clinton  made  an  offensive  movement  across  the 


'  Probably  a  misprint  for  December,  the  month  in  which  this  letter  is  dated.- 
TranMator. 
"Ironical  (?).—  Tramlator. 


■ 


il 


iM 


202 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS  RELATINO 


North  river.  •The  two  surprises  at  Stony-point  and  Pauli-liools, 
altliougli  of  little  importance,  have  caused  the  fame  of  the  army  to  be 
considerably  diminished,  and  has  inspired  the  Americans  with  fresh 
zeal.  The  capture  of  St.  Vincents  in  Grenada,  and  the  defeat  of 
Byron's  fleet  in  the  West  Indies,  have  so  elated  Count  D'Estaing,  that 
he  undertook  an  attack  upon  Savanna  in  Georgia.  Nor  does  he 
confine  himself  to  this  alone,  but  already  speculates  upon  an  attack 
on  New  York,  after  his  first  plan  shall  have  been  successful.  Hav- 
ing united  with  General  Washington,  he  began  his  preparations. 
Savanna  Avas  in  great  danger.  Sir  Henry  Clinton  made  a  retrograde 
movement  for  the  purpose  of  concentrating  his  forces  in  the  vicinity 
of  New  York ;  and  every  measure  for  defense  is  now  being  taken 
against  this  combined  attack. 

General  Prescott  has  repulsed  three  attacks  of  Count  D'Estaing 
and  the  American  general,  Lincoln.  The  former  was  twice  wounded. 
He  reembarked,  and  left  the  coast.  Lincoln  also  fell  back  with  the 
loss  of  Charlestown  in  South  Carolina.  Sir  Hyde  Parker,  in  the 
West  Indies,  has  captured  eighteen  French  ships,  and  from  thirty  to 
fifty  vaisseaux,  laden  with  provisions,  ammunition,  and  other  neces- 
saries for  the  fleet  of  Count  D'Estaing. 

Ten  thousand  men  are  now  being  embarked  here  for  some  import- 
ant destination,  where,  no  one  knows.  It  seems,  however,  as  though 
fortune  was  again  inclining  toward  us,  and  the  cloud  now  hanging 
over  our  horizon  would  soon  Uft.    God  grant  it ! 

In  case  I  receive  permission  from  Washington  (our  parole  extends 
only  to  America),  I  will  send  my  adjutant.  Lieutenant  Cleve,  to 
Brunswick,  to  bring  me  the  wishes  of  my  gracious  master,  in  regard 
to  myself  and  troops,  and  that  he  may  report  orally,  since  it  is 
impossible  to  intrust  more  to  paper  in  my  present  situation.  He  will 
deliver  to  you  the  journal  from  the  time  I  was  no  longer  able  to 
send  it.  He  will  also  be  able  to  answer  all  questions,  which  you  may 
ask  him  in  regard  to  it.  He  has  orders  to  tell  you  everything  that 
he  and  I  know  anything  about. 

My  wife  desires  to  be  remembered  to  your  highness.  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  to  whom  I  mentioned  the  fact  of  my  writing  to  you,  desires 
me  to  give  you  his  humblest  respects. 

I  remain,  etc. 

RiEDESEL. 


New  Yoke,  March  25, 1780. 
I  hope  these  lines  will  meet  with  better  luck  than  all  the  letters, 
which  I  wrote  your  highness  in  the  year  1779,  and  which,  apparently. 


TO  GEN.  RIEUESEVS  VAUPAION. 


203 


have  never  reached  their  destination,  since  Privy  Councillor  Fcrroncc 
tells  me,  in  liis  letter  of  the  30th  of  October,  that  no  other  letters  had 
been  received  from  me  at  that  time,  but  those  written  before  my 
departure  from  Cambridge.  Yet  I  have  written  five  letters  to  you 
between  the  time  of  my  arrival  in  Virginia  and  the  middle  of  the 
month  of  June.  All  of  these  arrived  in  New  York,  and  were  thence 
dispatched  to  Europe. 

Lieutenant  Cleve,  my  adjuUint,  is  the  fortunate  bearer  of  this  letter 
to  you.  He  is  ordered  to  tell  your  highness  everything  that  has 
occurred  not  only  where  we  are,  but  in  the  whole  of  America.  He 
is  instructed  in  regard  to  all  matters,  and,  indeed,  knows  every- 
thing that  I  know  myself.  I  have  instructed  him  to  tell  you  every- 
thing without  reserve,  and  to  entirely  pour  out  his  heart  to  you,  and 
ask  your  advice  upon  several  matters  while  he  remains  in  Brunswick. 
I  also  take  the  liberty  to  recommend  him  to  the  consideration  of 
your  highness.  He  is  a  very  good  officer,  bears  an  excellent  cha- 
racter, and  has  rendered  important  services  during  my  sojourn 
in  this  part  of  tlie  world,  especially  since  my  health  has  been  so  poor 
as  to  unfit  me  to  attend  to  my  usual  business.  I  will  not  enter  upon 
the  news  here  in  detail,  since  Cleve  can  report  it  verbally  and  more 
explicitly.  He  will  deliver  over  to  you  the  journal,  and  will  be  able 
to  answer  any  questions  you  may  ask  him. 

Captain  Gerlach,  whom  I  intrusted  with  the  making  of  the  plans 
for  you  (which  plans,  by  a  misunderstanding  were  not  transmitted 
to  you  by  Mr.  Ferronce),  has  requested  me  now  to  send  them  to 
you  by  this  favorable  opportunity.  They  are  not  all  flnislied,  but  he 
will  send  those  that  are  not  yet  done  by  the  next  opportunity.  I 
think  it  will  not  be  longer  than  fourteen  days. 

I  have  the  pleasure  of  informing  your  highness  that  my  wife,  who 
sends  her  humble  respects,  was  delivered  of  a  daughter  on  the  8th 
of  this  month.    Mother  and  child  are  both  enjoying  good  health. 

I  remain,  etc., 

RlEDESEL. 


New  Yoiik,  May  14, 1780.' 
I  avail  myself  of  the  departure  of  Capiain  Geismar  of  the  Hesse 
Hanau  regiment,  who  has  been  exchanged,  to  pay  my  respects  to 
your  highness  in  another  letter.  I  hope  Lieutenant  Cleve  has 
brought  you  my  last  letter  of  March.  I  am  still  in  the  same  uncer- 
tainly as  regards  my  own  movements ;  being  here,  in  consequence 


•  Received  Jane  98, 1780  ;  answered  July  1, 1780. 
26* 


mm 


204 


OFFICIAL  nOCVMENTS  liFLATlNO 


•  15 


of  orders  from  the  conininndcr  in  chief,  witlioiit  Icnowing  the  reason. 
Neither  am  I  as  yet  acquaiuted  witli  tlie  wislies  of  tlio'dulie,  and 
know  not,  therefore,  wliat  to  asli  of  the  commander  in  chief,  or  wliat 
to  refnse.  I  liope  tliat  everytliing  will  be  made  clear  to  me  after  the 
return  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and  upon  receiving  the  orders  of  my 
gracious  master  by  Cleve. 

On  the  24th  of  April  we  received  news  from  Charlestown,  which 
leads  me  to  believe  that  the  city  and  the  rebel  army  will  be  in  our 
power  in  a  few  days.  It  is  nevertheless  true,  however,  that  since 
then  we  have  not  heard  a  word  from  them,  which  causes  us  to  feel 
somewhat  uneasy.  We  hear  from  England  that  a  French  fleet 
intends  to  pay  either  New  York,  Charleston  or  Canada  a  visit;  and 
since  Marquise  Lafayette  has  arrived  with  important  matters  for 
congress,  it  is  not  to  be  doubted  that  France  is  about  firing  a  large 
bomb-shell,  but  it  is  yet  uncertain  where  it  Avill  burst.  All  necessary 
measures  are  being  taken  for  the  defense  of  this  island ;  reenforcements 
amounting  to  1,000  men,  have  been  sent  to  Canada;  and  I  trust  that 
Sir  Henry  will  soon  succeed  in  capturing  Charlestown. 

Tlie  populace  of  Philadelphia  are  so  enraged  against  the  IVIarquise 
de  Luceran,  the  French  minister,  that  he  was  obliged  to  flee  in  the 
night  to  Washington's  head  quarters ;  and  matters  are  at  present  so 
mi.xed,  that  it  may  reasonably  be  expected  that  the  revolution  will 
terminate,  unless  France  achieves  some  success,  and  thus  cheer  up 
those  who  are  downcast.  The  English  flag  still  maintains  the  supre- 
macy on  the  West  India  islands,  notwithstanding  the  arrival  of 
French  reenforcements. 

I  think  I  shall  be  able  to  communicate  to  you  more  interesting 
news  in  the  course  of  four  or  six  w^eeks,  which  I  both  believe  and 
flatter  myself  will  be  good.  For  tlie  present,  I  can  only  solicit  your 
favor  for  myself  and  family,  and  remain,  etc., 

RiEDESEL. 


New  York,  June  28, 1780. 
I  have  good  reason  to  fear  that  your  highness  has  not  received  my 
several  letters  which  I  sent  you,  viz :  three  from  Virginia  in  May, 
June  and  July.  My  adjutant  was  the  bearer  of  the  first  one.  Since 
my  arrival  here,  I  have  written  you  in  December;  a  second  time  in 
February ;  a  third  time  in  3Iarcli  by  my  adjutant ;  a  fourth  time  by 
the  Brigantine  Le  Flay ;  a  fifth  time  by  Captain  Geismar  of  the  Hesse 
Hanau  troops,  and  a  sixth  time  in  May.  Captain  Gerlach  had  the 
good  fortune  to  receive  two  letters  from  your  highness  since  then, 
which  confirms  me  in  my  doubts  that  you  have  never  received  mine. 


vi 


m 


TO  QEN.  RIEDESEVS  CAill'AION. 


205 


I  have  licaril  with  sorrow  of  your  grief  upon  the  death  of  your 
most  ilUistrious  brotlier,  my  gracious  duke  and  niastor.  Allow  me 
to  present  my  condolence  on  tliis  sad  event.  This  loss  adds  to  my 
melancholy  feelings ;  for  in  losing  my  most  gracious  duke,  who  has 
always  acted  toward  me  and  my  family,  like  a  father,  I  lose  a  pro- 
tector. My  gratitude  and  atfcction  he  will  have  through  all  eternity. 
It  is  fortunate  for  me  that  he  still  lives,  who  is  the  founder  of  that 
hai)pincss,  which  I  enjoy  in  his  service  by  giving  me  his  support 
during  the  first  reverses  in  military  life. 

By  tlie  surrender  of  Charlestown  we  are  filled  with  fresh  hope  of 
liberation.  Seven  generals,  about  three  hundred  offlcers,  and  almost 
four  thousand  prisoners  of  war  are  in  the  hands  of  Sir  Henry.  Tlicre 
is  now  ample  inducement  for  the  exchange  of  the  convention  troops, 
and  our  prisoners  of  war,  and  we  will  even  then  have  a  considerable 
balance  in  our  favor.  General  Lincoln,  who  has  asked  permission 
of  Clinton  to  visit  congress  for  two  months  to  work  for  the  exchange 
of  his  garrison,  has  arrived  in  Philadelphia.  Our  destiny  depends 
on  his  negotiation.  Should  he  succeed  in  inducing  congress  to  take  the 
initiatory  step  in  asking  for  an  exchange.  Sir  Henry  will  not  hesitate 
in  holding  out  his  hand  to  such  a  desirable  project ;  and  I  shall  then 
have  the  pleasure  of  again  bringing  together  all  the  troops  of  my 
gracious  sovereign. 

General  Clinton  is  at  present  encamped  at  Phillpsburg,  on  the 
White  Plains,  for  the  purpose  of  guarding  against  a  French  fleet 
which  is  expected.  If  Admiral  Graves  comes  up  in  time  this  attempt 
will  bn  in  vain.  If  not,  even  then,  it  may  yet  be  confidently 
expected  the  genius  of  the  general,  and  the  bravery  of  his  army  will 
make  this  the  complement  of  Savannah.  It  is  said  that  Sir  Henry 
is  in  despair  because  this  watching  hinders  him  from  following  up 
his  advantage  by  another  expedition  into  Virginia. 

I  hope  my  adjutant.  Lieutenant  Cleve,  has  delivered  to  you  my 
dispatches,  and  proved  himself  worthy  of  your  favor.  It  was  truly 
fortunate  that  providence  should  have  caused  me  to  send  him  just  at 
the  change  in  the  administration.  lie  will  assuredly  bring  me  the 
commands  of  my  new  master;  and  I  will  then  not  be  in  danger  of 
erring  from  ignorance  of  the  will  of  my  sovereign. 

I  remain,  etc., 

RiEDESEL.' 


'  The  duke  wrote  on  this  letter :  "  I  wag  perfectly  convinced  that  I  had  answered 
all  the  letters  I  have  received.    It  may  be  that  he  had  not  received  my  letters." 


206 


OFFICIAL  DOCOMENTS  nELATlNO 


^       -^ 


W 


m      > 


New  Yohk,  Sept.  8, 1780. 

Will  your  higlincsB  penult  me  to  return  you  my  sincerest  thanks 
for  the  kindness  you  liiive  shown  to  my  adjutant,  Captain  Clcve,' 
who  returned  here  on  tlic  2d  of  September ;  also  for  the  kind  letter 
which  you  had  the  goodness  to  write  me. 

No  news  whatever  has  occurred  since  my  last  letter.  The  two 
French  armies  remain  perfectly  inactive,  notwithstanding  reenforcc- 
ments. 

I  have  been  very  ill  and  my  recovery  was  doubted.  I  now  begin 
to  gain  a  little,  but  am  still  very  weak,  and  my  physician  forbids  riiy 
writing.  I  am  thus  forced  to  shorten  my  letter  against  my  will  • 
but  I  hope  to  gain  sufficient  strength  soon  to  write  you,  and  give 
more  news  and  details  in  regard  to  our  present  situation. 

Meanwhde,  etc., 

RiEDKBEL, 


New  Youk,  September  38, 1780. 

Believing  that  your  highness  is  interested  in  every  fortunate  that 
happens  to  me,  I  have  the  honor  of  communicating  to  you,  that  an 
exchange  has  been  linally  signed  after  a  captivity  of  three  years  and 
nine  months.  The  negotiations  are  not  yet  finished,  but  I  flatter 
myself  that  this  exchange  will  be  extended  to  all  prisoners  of  war, 
and  a  portion  of  the  convention  officers.  Washington,  however,  will 
will  not  be  in  favor  of  an  exchange  of  all  the  troops.  I  am  at  present 
entirely  at  tlie  disposal  of  Sir  Henry ;  and  my  departure  for  Canada 
and  entire  fate  depends  on  him.  As  yet  he  has  not  infonned  me  what 
his  intentions  in  regard  to  me  are. 

Lieutenant  Herstal  has  sent  to  me  the  two  kind  letters  of  your 
highness.  Upon  Captain  Cleve  communicating  to  me  the  opinions 
of  your  highness,  I  sent  ihe  proper  orders  to  Virginia  for  the  return 
of  young  Schuler  and  Brigadier  Specht.  As  soon  as  he  arrives  here,  I 
will  do  my  l)cst  to  send  him  to  Europe,  according  to  your  wishes. 

Since  my  last  letter  of  last  month,  nothing  has  occurred  here  worthy 
of  mention.  Sir  Henry  had  a  beautiful  project  for  taking  West-point 
by  treason,  by  which  he  would  have  become  master  of  the  North  river 
as  far  as  Albany.  There  was  an  understanding  with  General  Arnold, 
who  Avas  in  command  of  this  fortified  place,  and  who  now  serves  as 
brigadier  general  in  our  army. 

Unfortunately,  Major  Andre,  adjutant  of  Sir  Henry,  who  had  been 


'  He  had  gone  over  to  Germany  as  a  lieutenant. 


TO  OEN.  niEDESEVS  C'AitJ'AIoy. 


207 


(Uspatchcd  in  disguise  to  arrange  tlie  plan  witli  Arnold  and  inspect 
the  place,  was  captured.  Tlie  project  was  thus  discovered,  and  poor 
Andre  fell  a  sacrifice  to  the  intrigue.  Every  one  feels  sorry  for  the 
poor  man  ;  and  Sir  Henry  was  more  in  despair  at  losing  him  tlmn  at 
the  failure  of  tlie  undertaking.' 

A  corps  of  6,000  men,  under  General  Leslie,  started  on  an  expedi- 
tion fourteen  days  ago.  Its  destination  is  believed  to  be  south,  but 
no  one  linows  anytliing  about  it.  It  is  hoped  that  we  shall  hear  good 
news  from  it  soon.  The  rebels  arc  much  alanned  at  it.  We  captured, 
a  few  days  since,  a  courier  on  his  way  from  Washington's  army  to 
Boston.  I  send  to  you  a  few  of  the  letters  whicli  were  taken  from 
him,  and  which  were  printed  by  order  of  Sir  Henry.  The  reading  of 
these  letters  will  prove  to  you  what  cannibals  the  rebels  are,  and  what 
dissatisfaction  and  uneasiness  exists  among  their  army  tliroughout  the 
wliole  continent.  They  also  do  not  show  that  they  have  any  too 
much  confidence  in  their  new  allies. 

There  is  talk  of  a  second  embarkation,  and  that  Sir  Henry  intends 
to  strike  a  grand  blow  ;  also  that  Sir  George  Rodney  designs  attack- 
ing tlie  Frencli  fleet  in  New  York  harbor  with  the  cooperation  of  Sir 
Henry  from  the  land.  The  future  will  show  how  much  truth  there  is 
in  tliese  reports. 

Medical  advice  obliges  me  to  close  this  letter  against  my  will. 

Believe  me,  etc., 

RlEDESEL, 


New  Yohk,  November  10, 1780.' 
Hoping  that  your  highness  has  received  the  letter  wliicli  I  sent 
fourteen  days  since  by  tlie  packet  Roebuck,  Captain  Bournabe,  I 
embrace  the  opportunity,  caused  by  the  departure  of  my  adjutant. 
Captain  Willoe,  for  England,  to  report  as  follows :  Sir  Henry,  in 
pursuance  of  your  request,  has  arranged  for  the  exchange  of  Ensign 
Bode  of  the  regiment  Rhetz.  Colonel  Specht,  Captain  Cleve,  and 
Lieutenant  Burgsdorf  are  exchanged,  and  I  expect  them  here  every 
moment.  1  hope  Colonel  Specht  will  bring  with  him  young  Schuler. 
I  have  requested  him  to  do  so  in  three  successive  letters. 

Notliing  new  has  occurred  since  my  last,  except  that  we  hear  that 
General  Leslie  disembarked  on  the  James  river  in  Virginia,  and 


'  In  several  historical  works  it  is  stated  that  Andrfl  went  in  auiform  to  Arnold, 
but  put  on  a  disguise  before  returning  by  the  advice  of  the  latter.  This  statement 
seems  to  be  erroneous. 

"Received  January  17, 1781. 


£ 


1  t'^'  ' 

\ 

1 

i 

•  { 

- 
1 

;!<• 

'i- 

20« 


OFFICIAL  IWCVilKNTS  IIELATINO 


'       '• 


cftptured  u  coiisltlfrahlc  inai^ii/.ino  at  I'clcrsburii;!!,  wliii!li  Hk'  rcbuls 
hiiil  erected  there  for  tlieiirmy  ot'Ciencriil  (luleH  in  Norlli  (Jiirolina. 

It  seeiim  that  this  expedition  of  Li  slie  is  part  of  tlie  plan  wideli 
Cornwallis  intends  to  earry  out  against  llie  army  of  (Jenerid  Oales, 
and  tints  extend  ids  iines  in  tlie  scniliiern  part  of  tiie  conlinent.  Time 
will  siiow  wlietlier  llie  projeet  results  well.  Your  letter  to  tornwaliis 
has  l)een  sent  l)y  Major  Ueneral  Von  Hose  of  tlie  Hessians,  by  tiic 
way  of  Charlestown. 

Adndral  Rodney  will  sail  witli  his  fleet  from  Lundy,  and  go  first 
to  the  West  Indies,  Adndral  Arbutlinot  is  still  near  the  French 
fleet  in  the  harbor  of  the  Uliode  Island.  Our  fleet  from  Cork,  with 
provisions,  etc.,  wldeii  is  so  much  htolted  for,  has  not  yet  arrived. 
The  army  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton  has  gone  into  winter  (juarters,  and 
Waslnngton  keeps  very  ([uiet. 

General  Phillips,  afU'r  his  exeliange,  was  placed  in  command  of 
the  grenadiers,  the  liglit  infantry  and  the  42d  British  regiment. 
This  is  the  elite  corps  of  the  anuy.  He  is  full  of  joy,  and  requests  me 
to  remember  him  to  jour  highness. 

I  remain,  etc., 

,   HiKDKSKh,  Major  General.' 


Biu)OKi,YN,  Jan.  2«,  1780." 
I  hope  the  bearer  of  this  letter  will  have  the  honor  of  waiting  upon 
you  in  person.    I  confess  I  envy  him  Ids  good  fortune,  for  I  would 
consider  myself  (he  luckiest  of  mortals,  could  I  have  this  pleasure 
once  more  in  my  life. 

Lieutenant  Von  Meyer  of  tlie  grenadier.s,  Ensigns  Bode  and  Fleischer 
of  the  regiment  Blielz,  have,  according  to  the  wishes  of  your  higli- 
ness,  been  exchanged  ;  and  you  may  be  assured  that  the  carrying 
out  of  your  orders  is  my  most  pleasant  duty. 

Nothing  wortliy  of  note  has  occurred  since  my  last,  which  left  on 
the  packet,  except  a  mutiny  in  the  camp  of  the  rebels  New  Year's 
night.  Tlie  (Continental  troops  destroyed  tlie  park  of  artillery  and 
deserted  Washington.  Tliereupon,  Sir  Henry,  tliinking  they  would 
join  him,  njade  a  movement  witli  a  portion  of  the  army,  liut  these 
gentlemen  were  neither  inclined  toward  one  side  or  the  other.    They 


'  It  may  seem  strnngc  to  tlio  reader  that  Rieclescl  signs  himself  major  general, 
having  received  the  title  of  lieutenant  general  from  General  Clinton.  This  rank, 
however,  was  only  given  by  Clinton,  out  of  courtesy  to  the  Oerman  general,  while 
having  an  English  command.  It  amounted  to  nothing  iu  Brunswick,  and  Ricdcscl, 
therefore,  signed  himself  as  usual,  major  general. 

»  Received  April  83, 1781. 


TO  r/A'.V.  IllKDKSKL'S  fAMI'MUN. 


2()!) 


merely  nuked  lor  some  provlMioiis  ami  the  privilege  of  paHsinj?  by 
liiin.  It  is  siiid  ilmt,  con^'resH  lias  HiiccciMlcd  in  (|iii'irm>,'  this  mutiny 
l)y  making'  promises  whieli  it,  is  not  alilr  to  lullill.  Hut  even  if  it 
could  rnllill  llieni,  the  rest  of  the  army  would  demand  the  same  thinj;. 

At  the  veiy  moment  I  am  writiiif,'  this  line,  news  arriv<'s  of  u 
seeond  mutiny  in  VVashinnton's  army  ;  the  troops  having  heard 
that  the  Continental  troops  from  Jersey,  who  have  revolted,  have 
offered  their  services  to  Sir  Henry.  Take  it  altogether,  the  rebels 
never  Imvohecm  in  such  a  miserable  situation  as  at  present ;  anduidess 
France  sends  soon  eonsid(;rable  HUi)p()rt,  I  lirndy  believe  that  tluH 
wnr  will  soon  termimite. 

The  c(»mmand  here  on  Long  island,  aflbrds  me  jilenty  of  exercise; 
but  although  the  physician  tells  me  that  exercise  is  Ww  only  means 
by  which  I  can  recover  my  health,  I  feel  no  esi>ecial  l)enetit  result- 
ing from  it.  My  headache  still  continues  ;  my  nnnd  is  feeble  and 
unable  to  work  ;  and  a  genuine  hy])ochondria  causes  me  to  sj)end 
my  days  in  sadness. 

A  part  of  our  convention  ollieers  and  a  portion  of  our  prisoners 
from  Rutland  have  arrived  here ;  and  I  am  making  preparations  to  go 
to  Canada  with  these  .small  reenforcements  to  assume  the  command 
there  just  as  soon  as  the  season  of  the  year  and  Sir  Henry  allow  me 
to  do  so. 

I  remain, 

ItiKDKHKi,,  Major  General. 


BuooKi.VN,  Fchrumij  11),  1781. 

I  hope  your  highness  has  received  the  letters  I  wrote  you  last  year, 
and  that  Colonel  8pecht  has  handed  you  my  last,  written  in  the 
beginning  of  this  year.  I  also  trust  that  young  Sehuler  has  had  tlie 
pleasure  of  expressing  to  you  his  thanks  for  the  kindness  you  have 
shown  him.  I  have  the  honor  of  forwarding  you  a  letter  from  Lord 
Cornwallis  which  he  sent  me  with  the  reciuest  to  send  it  to  you.  Sir 
Henry,  also,  has  especially  instructed  me  to  present  your  highness 
l)is  best  respects. 

I  wish  that  the  state  of  my  health  was  such  as  to  allow  me  to  write 
longer  letters  to  you,  especially  since  the  state  of  affairs  here  furnish 
me  with  plenty  of  matter.  The  season  of  the  year,  which  hiis  i)ut  a 
stop  to  all  military  operations,  prevents  my  sending  you  news  which 
would  gladden  your  heart.  Sir  Henry  hopes  for  ample  reenforce- 
ments from  England ;  and  the  rebels  expect  the  aid  of  1G,000  French 
troops.  The  result  of  this  next  campaign,  therefore,  will  be  in  favor 
of  that  side  whose  expectations  are  realized. 


I 


w 


210 


OFFICIAL  nOCUMESTS  ItKLATINO 


CotiKrcHg  ima  found  nicntm  to  HiipprcHH  the  two  nmtliiit's  in  Kh 
nrniy;  luit  ii  third  rcvoH  miiy  Im-  cxpcclfd  (in  coiisccincnfc!  of  its 
Iniiltlilly  to  itecp  iln  pronilHCH),  widcli  will  Ik'  of  ii  more  w(Tl()im  nature 
thun  tlu!  pnsvlouK  oncH.  Arnold,  who  him  nuirchcd  iilniost  800  ndlca 
into  th(s  interior  of  Virf^inlii  hiis  met  with  more  huccchh  tlum  wiis 
expected,  luiving  K'dned  ii  footliold  near  I'ortHnioutli  at  tlin  nioutlt  of 
the  Janies  river. 

Tlie  noted  Oarleton  '  lias  l)een  beaten  in  tlie  south.  I  hope  it  will 
not  result  badly  for  tlie  cause  as  a  whole,  nor  end>arraH8  Lord 
Cornwallis. 

An  army  corps  here,  consisting  of  the  (lower  of  tlie  auny,  has 
received  orders  to  end)arl<.  Its  destination  is  not  Itnown.  I  should 
not  be  surprised  if  Sir  Henry  conunands  them  in  person. 

I  am  malting  preparations  for  my  journey  to  Canada,  and  I  believe 
that  Sir  Henry  will  tlx  the  time  for  my  departure,  as  soon  as  the 
weather  will  penult.  I  hope  the  climate  there  will  be  more  favorable 
to  my  health  than  the  climate  lu-re,  and  that  I  shall  then  regain  the 
health  of  whicli  I  have  been  deprived  for  over  two  years.  Ollierwise, 
I  shall  not  be  able  to  attend  to  the  work  wlii(;h  my  duty  demands 
of  me. 

Sir  Henry  has  had  the  kindness  to  allow  me  to  take  young 
Beckwith  as  supernumerary  adjutant.  I  hope  that  in  this  I  have  done 
a  favor  to  his  fatluir  whom  I  respect  and  very  much  love,  and  also 
that  tlie  chief  magistrate  of  Westplialia  will  rejoice  at  it.  He  is  a 
good  looking  young  man,  of  good  talents  and  cliaracter.  If  ho  is  like 
his  brother,  tlie  adjutant  of  General  Kiiiphausen,  he  will  be  to  me  a 
valuable  acquisition,  I  remain, 

RiEDESEL,  Major  General. 


BnooKLTN,  Sum  13, 1781. 

I  was  delighted  to  receive  your  two  letters,  one  dated  November 
14tli,  at  Gottorf,  and  the  other,  December,  at  Brunswick,  upon  your 
return  from  Copenhagen. 

A  few  days  since  I  was  again  visited  by  an  attack  of  fever  Avhich 
hinders  me  from  making  this  a  long  letter.  I  liave  had  the  operations 
of  this  campaign  drawn  up  by  Cleve,  and  now  inclose  it. 

The  time  for  my  departure  for  Canada  has  not  yet  been  designated. 
The  admiral  refuses  to  furnish  a  convoy,  but  Sir  Henry  has  written 
General  Hamilton  to  send  him  two  frigates,  and  I  hope  therefore  that 
wo  shall  leave  as  soon  as  the  ships  arrive. 


I  Probably  Tarlcton.—  Translator. 


TO  (/US.  HIHnKSKI.'H  VAMI'AKl.S. 


211 


ConiwiiUlH  liiM  iij^iiin  advancod  on  tlie  roiul  to  vlftory;  iind  iCLn- 
fayctU!  ill  liny  way  ket'ps  Htt'p  with  liiin,  It  In  very  likely  im  may  win 
iinother  battle. 

You  will,  I  know,  graelouHly  pardon  tlie  HliortneMH  of  tliiu  letter, 
but  my  head  ism)  weak,  I  cannot  write  longer. 

]  remain, 

UiKDRHKi.,  Major  General. 


RouKr,!,, .//////  8, 1782.' 
Your  two  letters  of  May  7tli,  17H1,  und  Feliniary  lltli,  I7K3,  were 
received  a  weiik  slnee  by  tlie  Eiiffllsli  lleet,  and  have  given  ine  >?reiit 
pleasure.    The  aHHiiranee  of  your  favor  was  a  good  medieiiie  for  my 
poor  health. 

I  recognize  in  It  my  old  benc^factor         #  »  # 

Nothing  of  note  has  occurred  In  this  province  since  my  arrival.  The 
misfortui;  vlilcli  has  befallen  Lord  (lornwallis  iilarined  iisextreinely 
last  whiti .  and  all  tlie  news  we  have  since  received  coiitirms  us  in 
the  belief  that  we  will  be  attacked  both  from  the  sea  sidt;  and  Ww 
colonies.  The  change  in  the  ministry  has  caused  ii  ditferent  system 
to  be  pursued ;  and,  unless  one  is  a  pro|)het,  no  one  can  at  present 
foretell  what  events  may  take  place.  Wc  arc  comforted  with  tlio 
rumors  of  peace.  I  wish  it  were  so  with  all  my  heart,  for  my  health 
fails  mc  more  and  more  every  day;  and  it  only  with  great  ditticulty 
that  I  can  attend  to  the  duties  of  my  oflice.  What  joy  it  would  be 
if  the  time  had  come  when  I  could  pay  my  respects  to  you  in 
person.    Until  that  time  arrives,  I  must  be  content  to  do  it  by  letter. 

I  remain, 

UiKUKHKK,  Major  General. 


(JuKHKC,  OcUihe)'  20,  1783. 

I  have  had  the  pleasure  to  receive  two  letters  from  your  highness, 
one  in  the  French  and  the  other  in  the  German  language. 

Although  the  climate  in  Cinada  is  more  congenial  to  me  than  that 
of  the  south,  and  although  1  feel  better  able  to  attend  to  my  duties 
since  my  arrival  here,  yet  I  sutfer  from  constant  headache,  and  do 
not  enjoy  good  health  for  a  week  at  a  time. 

Hitherto  the  situation  in  Canada  has  been  very  peaceable.  I  am 
busy  in  reforming  the  Brunswick  regiments,  and  am  in  command 
near  the  border  of  the  colonies.    During  the  summer  I  encamped  with 


•  Received  October  1»,  1782. 


27* 


.     K 


-J  1  >J 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS  RELATING 


eiglit  rogimcnts  on  the  Isle  aiix  Noir,  where  a  fortification  hns  been 
laid  out,  wliieh  is  to  be  strongly  built  of  stone  by  our  engineer, 
Captain  Twiss,  and  command  the  district  in  which  it  is  erected.    , 

It  seems  to  me  useless  to  send  you  a  Journal  of  this  year's  ope- 
rations, since  everytliing  we  hear  is  so  old  that  you  must  have  heard 
it  long  ago  by  way  of  England.  I  fear  we  are  <m  the  point  of  eva- 
cuating New  York,  and  that  we  shall  be  unable  to  keep  anything  but 
Canada  and  Nova  Scotia.  Under  the  last  supposition  the  scene  of 
action  will  be  shifted  from  the  southwest  here,  in  which  case  we 
might  easily  be  attacked  next  spring.  I  hope  we  shall  give  a  good 
account  of  ourselves. 

Captain  Urban  Clcve  has  not  yet  arrived  here,  having  been  sent 
to  Halifax,  and  thence  to  Penobscot;  and  although  I  have  moved 
heaven  and  earth  to  have  him  come  to  me  at  once,  I  doubt  if  I  shall 
sec  him  before  spring. 

Your  obedient  servant,  etc., 

ItlEDKSGL. 


SouEi,, ,/)(///  2,  178:$.' 

I  have  had  the  honor  of  receiving  your  highness's  two  favors  of 
dates  respectively,  October  27,  and  January  17.  *  *  * 

\Vc  have  received  orders  to  be  ready  to  embark.  This  gives  me 
a  sure  hope  of  being  able  soon  to  pay  my  respects  to  your  highness 
personallj',  and  I  long  for  the  moment  to  come. 

^Ij'  health  is  of  the  same  vacillating  character;  now  bad  and  now 
tolerable.  My  sole  liope  rests,  at  i)resent,  on  the  climate.  My  return 
to  the  fatherland  may  again  restore  my  strength,  for  there  I  shall 
be  expo.sed  neither  to  extreme  heat  or  severe  cold.  It  is  these 
changes  that  so  weaken  my  nervous  system. 

I  will  not  spnak  to  you  of  the  peace  which  has  been  made,  since 
it  costs  me  considerable  to  confess  the  disadvantages  connected  with 
it.  We  must  hope  that  that  part  of  the  nation,  through  whose  intlu- 
ence  peace  was  made,  will  also  find  means  to  counterbalance 
its  evils.  The  Americans  are  at  present  apparently  haughty  and 
drunk  with  joy  ;  but  they  arc  candid,  they  talk  sensibly  and  know 
the  real  resources  of  their  enemies.  At  such  times  they  speak  ditfer- 
ently  and  foresee  the  clouds  which  are  hanging  over  them. 

Sixteen  piasters  for  each  man,  and  four  shillings  on  every  pound 
sterling  for  beer,  are  the  taxes  which  have  been  made,  and  which  do 
not  at  all  harmonize  with  the  prosperity  which  the  inhabitants  have 


1  ItKCcivod  Octolier  4, 178.3. 


TO  (iKy.  UtKDJiSEL'S  VAMPAIUN. 


21B 


ill  other  respects  enjoyed  iiiuler  the  Brltiwh  government.  The  province 
of  Canada,  also,  is  too  inucli  endangered  by  tliis  peace ;  and  I  tear  this 
has  been  brouglit  about  by  a  false  knowledge  of  her  position.  The 
English  ministry  have  agreed  to  give  the  Americans  more  territory 
than  tiiey  really  asked  for.  General  llaldimand  is  consequently 
placed  in  a  bad  predicament,  for  he  does  not  know  liow  to  satisfy 
the  dcimands  of  the  Invlians,  nor  how  to  protect  the  commerce  of  tlu; 
Highlands.  But  without  being  aware  of  it,  I  have  gone  into  matters 
which  I  can  state  more  satisfactorily  to  your  highness  when  I  have 
the  honor  of  waiting  on  you  in  person. 

I  have  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  in  the  month  of  March,  my 
youngest  daughter,  who  was  born  on  the  Ist  of  November  of  last 
year.  But,  thank  God,  my  wife  is  very  well,  and  both  herself  and 
the  children  desire  to  be  remembered. 

Captain  Wolzegen,  who  arrived  here  last  fall,  has  gained  the 
respect  of  all.  lie  served  with  great  distinction  in  New  York,  and 
gave  great  satisfaction  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  Even  on  a  march,  ho 
has  the  reputation  of  being  a  good  economist. 

I  remain,  etc., 

RiKUKSKI.. 


MAJOR  GENEBAI,  KIEDESEL  TO  MAJOR  GENERAL  GREENE,  QUARTER 
MASTER  GENERAL. 


Sir: 


Nkw  York,  Marcli  8, 1780. 


I  liad  the  honor  of  receiving  at  Elizabcthtown,  your  letter  of  the 
15th  of  November,  1779,  with  the  inclosures  from  Ccjlonel  Uoss,  deputy 
(piarter  master  g(;neral  at  Lancaster,  relative  to  a  sum  of  seven  hun- 
dred and  twenty  pounds  overpaid  for  transporting  my  baggage  from 
Lancaster  to  Bethlehem,  which  letter  I  have  not  had  it  in  my  power 
to  answiT  till  now,  ibr  want  of  a  proper  opportunity  to  send  one  to 
you. 

Colonel  Ross  seems  to  put  the  faidt  on  Captain  Gerlach,  my 
dejjuty  quarter  master  general,  as  if  he  had  made  a  particular  con- 
tract with  the  drivers  without  the  quarter  master  general's  department 
of  your  arr  .y  having  taken  any  part  in  it.  To  clear  up  the  real 
fact,  I  desuvd  a  report  of  the  whole  transaction  of  tliis  atfair  to  be 
made  to  ine  by  Deputy  Quarter  Master  General  Captain  Gerlach, 
and  which  I  luive  the  honor  of  communicating  to  you. 

It  is  quite  clear  that  Colonel  Boss  i)romised  to  me  that  the  wagons 
for  the  transportation  of  my  baggage  should  be  given  over  immedi- 
ately on  its  arrival  at  the  rate  of  twelve  pounds,  each,  per  day  ;  and 


^;r  imm 


214 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS  liELATINO 


that  Cni»tain  Geilach  had  to  wait  five  clays  without  being  dispatched ; 
tliat  at  last  Colonel  Ross  gave  three  wagons  at  thirty  pounds  each 
per  day ;  and  that  Captain  Gcrlach  accepted  thein  at  price,  see- 
ing there  was  no  other  means  of  pursuing  his  route ;  that  ho  paid 
the  sun»  of  money  into  tlie  hands  of  Colonel  Koss's  clerk,  as  appears 
hy  his  receipt ;  that  the  wagons  did  not  perform  more  than  half  the 
journey,  or  were  more  than  half  the  number  of  days  out,  nor  could 
it  be  my  fault  that  myself,  consequently  my  baggage,  by  order  of 
congress  was  stopped  half  way ;  tlierefore,  sir,  having  given  you  in 
detail  the  circumstances,  I  leave  the  whole  to  your  just  and  equitable 
decision,  and  sliall  not  reply  another  word  if  you  believe,  according 
to  the  circumstances,  that  I  should  lose  the  suni  I  took  the  liberty 
to  demand  of  quarter  master  general's  doiiartment  in  my  former 
letter  to  you,  sir. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc., 

RiEDEBKii,  Major  General. 


DEPUTY  QUAKTEU  MASTEK  OI5NERAL  GEKLACII  TO  MAJOR  GENERAL 

DE  RIEDE8EL. 


Sir: 


New  York,  March  7, 1780. 


I  have  read  the  letters  from  3Iajor  General  Greene,  and  Deputy 
Quarter  Master  General  Ross,  and  have  the  honor  of  reporting  to  you 
the  whole  of  the  transaction  for  the  wagons,  which  I  received 
through  means  of  Colonel  Ross. 

The  4th  of  October,  1779,  I  arrived  at  Lancaster:  the  first  thing  I 
did  there  was  to  wait  on  Colonel  Ross,  requesting  him  to  procure  me 
three  wagons  to  ti-ansjiort  the  baggage  to  Elizabeth  Town.  Four 
days  atler  I  again  went  to  Colonel  Ross,  who  liad  not  yet  been  able 
to  procure  the  wagons.  At  last  1  proposed  to  pay  something  more 
than  what  Colonel  Ross  had  promised  to  get  them  for  General  Ried- 
esel,  which  was  at  £12  each  per  day.  At  length,  on  the  8th  of 
October,  Colonel  Ross  let  me  know  lie  had  sent  an  express  for  three 
was^ons,  and  that  they  were  just  arrived;  on  which  I  went  to 
Colonel  Ross's  office  to  settle  lor  the  said  wagons,  and  his  clerk, 
Mr.  Brandon,  informed  me,  that  they  came  tothlrty  pounds,  each,  per 
diem  ;  I  therefore  found  myself  necessitated  to  pay  that  sum,  which 
I  did  into  the  hands  of  his  clerk,  according  to  receipt  in  my  posses- 
sion ;  but  I  never  made  any  particular  agreement  with  Andrew  More- 
land  or  David  Hayes. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc., 

J.  D.  Geulach,  Deputy  Quarter  Master  General. 


TO  OBN.  RIEDE3BV8  CAMPAIGN. 


215. 


CORUE8PONDENCE  OF  GENERAL  RIEBESEL  WITH  THE  HEREDITARY 
I'RINCE  WILLIAM  OF  HESSE  CA8SEL,  REIGNING  COUNT  OP  HESSE 
HANAU,  AFTERWARDS  ELECTOR  WILLIAM  I.  KH  ORDER  OF  THE 
PRINCE  ;  AND  A  LIST  OF  THE  HESSIAN  COMMANDERS  OF  REGI- 
MENTS AND  STAl'F  OFFICERS. 

Most  Illustrious,  Most    Gracious    Prince   unci  Muster,  llereditury 

Prince : 

Due  devotion  to  the  person  of  your  highness,  and  my  adverse  futc, 
arc  the  barriers  which  have  prevented  my  informing  your  highness  of 
my  good  fortune  in  having  under  me  your  regiment.  It  is  worthy  of  all 
praise,  and,  without  gainsay,  is  tlie  finest  body  of  troops  in  America. 
The  same  thing  may  be  said  of  the  company  of  artillery,  which  has 
been  attached  to  it  since  the  army  has  been  divided.  I  sincerely 
wish  that  I  had  had  something  to  do  in  carrying  out  the  plan  of 
operations  that  I  might  have  made  the  fate  of  these  line  and  brave 
troops  more  pleasant  than  that  which  they  have  had  to  share  with 
the  northern  soldiers  since  the  convention  of  Saratoga. 

Real  attachment  to  the  troops,  and  a  desire  to  have  justice  done 
them,  are  the  reasons  for  my  troubling  you  with  these  lines.  I  am 
anxious,  also,  to  give  my  testimony  to  the  courage  and  good  feeling 
which  the  officers  and  men  have  shown  on  all  occasions.  I  com- 
mend them  to  the  favor  of  your  highness. 

I  have  made  it  a  point  not  only  always  to  see  to  it,  that  these  troops 
received  their  just  dues,  the  same  as  those  of  my  own  sovereign, 
under  my  special  command  ;  but  when  individual  soldiers  have  been 
separated  from  their  regiments,  I  have  given  them  food  and  charged 
it  to  the  credit  of  the  Brunswick  military  fund.  Thus,  those  Hessians, 
who  have  escaped  from  their  captivity,  have  been  furnished  by  me 
with  pay  and  clothes,  and  sent  by  my  order  to  Canada.  Inasmuch  as 
I  have  acted  thus  from  devotion  to  yourself,  as  well  as  a  sense  of 
duty.  It  would  be  pleasing  to  know  that  it  meets  with  your  approval. 

I  consider  it  also  a  duty  for  me  to  recommend  to  your  gracious 
favor  the  bearer  of  this.  Captain  Von  Qeismar,  who  has  the  consent 
of  Brigadier  Gall  to  go  to  Hanau.  He  has  not  only  attended  to  his 
own  duties  with  the  greatest  diligence,  but,  with  the  permission  of 
his  chief.  Brigadier  General  Gall  (under  >vhom  he  served  as  brigade 
major),  he  has  sought  all  possible  opportunities  to  distinguish  him- 
self, and  manifest  his  zeal  for  the  service.    On  one  occasion,  for  in- 


'  This  draft  Is  without  date  or  placo. 
May  14,  dnrinjr  the  year  1780. 


Very  likely  it  was  written  from  New  York, 


f  ■ 


216 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS  liELATING 


stance,  a  horse  was  shot  under  him  on  the  19th  of  September,  1777, 
duriiijf  the  engagement  near  Freeman's  farm,  at  which  time  he  served 
witli  me  as  a  volunteer. 

Soliciting  the  kind  favor,  etc., 

RlEDEBKL. 

Auxiccr  to  the  nbote. 

Hanau,  Sept.  5, 1780. 
Sir — Especially  dear  Lieutenant  General: 

Captain  ('eismar  handed  me,  on  his  arrival  licrc  tlie  18tli  of  last 
July,  your  kind  letter  of  the  14th  of  May.  I  rejoice  at  its  contents, 
and  am  pleased  at  having  an  opportunity  to  render  you  (as  I  have 
long  been  desirous  of  doing),  my  gratitude  for  the  manifold  care  and 
attention  which  you  have  shown  my  infantry  regiment,  and  the 
artillery  company  attached  to  it,  as  long  as  they  were  under  your 
command.  Colonel  Von  Gall  has  repeatedly  mentioned  to  me  the 
many  kind  actions  which  were  shown  to  him  and  his  men  by  you ; 
and  Captain  Spangenberg  confirmed  this  when  he  was  here  last 
year.  I  reud(;r  you,  therefore,  with  sincere  pleasure,  my  true  thanks. 
I  should  feel  very  thankful  to  a  Hessian  for  doing  this ;  how  much 
more  so  then,  to  a  man  whose  name  reminds  me  of  the  many  services 
his  ancestors  have  rendered  to  my  house.  I  shall  appreciate  them 
at  all  times,  and  will  endeavor  to  show  you  the  esteem  and  true 
friendship  whic^h  I  shall  always  cherish  for  you. 

I  remain,  lieutenant  genei'al,  your  humble  servant, 

William,  Hereditary  Prince  of  Hessia. 
To  Lieutenant  (Jeneral  Baron  Von  Uiedesel,  of  the  Princely  House  of 

Brunswick  and  WolfenbOltel. 


Hanau,  Dec.  31, 1780. 
My  Noble  and  very  dear  Lieutenant  General : 

I  received  by  yesterday's  mini  your  kind  letter  dated  at  New  York, 
the  1st  of  November  last,  and  observe  with  great  pleasure  that  you 
were  exchanged  the  2()tb  of  last  October,  and  have  received  orders 
to  go  to  Canada.  But  as  much  as  I  rejoice  at  this,  it  was  very  un- 
pleasant to  learn  that  my  colonel.  Gall,  has  left  the  regiment  without 
my  permission  and  knowledge.  I  send  under  this  date  the  order  for 
him  to  go  with  you  to  Canada,  as  soon  as  the  season  of  the  year 
will  allow  it,  and  take  there  the  command  of  my  regiment.  Ho 
must  not  dare  come  to  Europe. 

I  commend  him,  nevertheless,  to  your  care,  and  request  you  at  the 


T 


TO  UEX.  niKI)EHEL-S  CAMPAIGN. 


217 


same  time  to  take  the  necessary  steps  with  tlie  autliorities.  Also,  do 
me  tl>e  favor  to  asli  General  Phillips,  in  my  name,  not  to  allow  any 
of  my  officers  (who  have  hcen  captured)  to  hm^e  the  regiment  unless 
a  written  permission  signed  by  me  is  shown  him.  I  would  again 
earnestly  thank  you  for  the  kindness  sliown  to  my  men,  and  com- 
mend them  all  (including  those  in  Canada),  to  your  kindness  in  the 
future. 

I  trust  you  have  received  my  letter  of  the  5tli  of  last  September, 
and  remo'-    vith  esteem  and  sincere  friendship, 

WiMJAM,  Hereditary  Prince  of  Hcssia, 
To  Lieutenant  General  Von  Kiedesel  of  Brunswick. 


IlANAiT,  Avgud  20, 1781. 
Especially  dear  Major  General : 

Your  letters  of  the  30th  of  February,  38th  of  April,  and  !)th  of  May, 
were  all  handed  me  nearly  at  the  same  time. 

I  thank  you  very  much  for  tlie  news  they  contain,  hut  especially 
for  the  care  shown  my  troops,  and  your  devotion  for  that  nation 
from  which  your  whole  race  has  .-iprung.  From  this  view  I  estimate 
more  highly  your  exertions,  being  conv'nced  that  personal  devotion 
to  me,  and  an  earnest  Hessian  licart,  are  at  the  bottom  of  it. 

Judging  by  your  last  letters  that  you  will  go  to  Canada  in  the 
course  of  this  fall,  I  send  this  letter  thither. 

I  hope  I  will  soon  receive  the  information  for  which  I  asked  you 
in  my  last  letter  (one  copy  of  which  I  sent  to  New  York,  and  one  to 
Canada),  in  regard  to  Colonel  Gall  who  has  been  dismissed.  I  depend 
on  your  integrity  not  to  hide  anything  from  me ;  for  I  have  resolved 
to  go  to  the  bottom  of  this  cutting  down  of  the  officers'  rations  in 
Canada,  and,  for  this  reason,  have  instituted  the  strictest  investigation. 

I  was  not  a  little  surprised  at  the  intelligence  you  gave  me  of  the 
unexpected  arrival  of  Lieutenant  Thomas  with  the  transport  of 
recruits.  They  lefl  here  in  the  spring  of  1780,  and  I  had  hoped  that 
they  were  long  since  in  Canada.  I  hope  the  troops  have  departed 
with  you  for  that  province  and  will  safely  arrive  there,  and  that 
Lieutenant  Thomas  has  again  started  from  New  York  for  Europe. 

It  has  been  very  unpleasant  for  me  to  learn  of  the  measures 
adopted  by  the  rebels  in  regard  to  the  convention  troops,  in  separating 
and  exchanging  the  officers.  I  pity  the  poor  prisoners  with  all  my 
heart;  and  fear,  with  you,  that  this  separation  will  have  many  sad 
results.  Yet  I  flatter  myself  that,  before  your  departure  from  New 
York,  you  did  everything  in  your  power  for  them  all,  and  especially 


I'  ^ 


218 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS  IlELATINO 


for  those  that  belong  to  me.    I  commend  my  troops  in  America  to 
your  care  in  tlic  future. 

I  remain,  witli  sentiments,  etc., 

WiLMAM,  Ilereditarj-  Prince  of  Hcssia. 
To  Major  General  Von  Riedescl. 

P.S. —  Just  as  I  was  closing  this  letter,  I  received  yours  of  the  6th 
of  last  July,  by  which  I  sec  that  you  had  not  yet  left  for  Canada,  and 
that  the  time  for  your  departure  was  not  yet  fixed. 

In  regard  to  the  dismissal  of  Colonel  Van  Gall,  I  know  that  lie 
himself  requested  his  exchange,  and  it  was,  therefore,  his  duty  (the 
same  as  other  officers  of  my  regiment),  to  have  remained  in  New 
York  until  he  could  have  accompanied  you  to  Canada.  I  cannot 
therefore,  my  dear  general,  blame  you  in  the  least ;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
must  thank  you  for  your  readiness  in  obliging  Colonel  Gall,  as  you 
of  course,  could  not  but  suppose  that  his  journey  hither  was  under- 
taken with  my  consent.  In  respect  to  the  future  exchange  of  several 
officers  of  my  regiment,  and  in  regard,  also,  to  the  measures  that  were 
taken  for  the  convention  troops,  let  me  say  that  I  shall  have  to  be 
satisfied  with  them,  since  they  were  ordered  by  the  king.  Neither 
will  I  be  the  cause  of  further  alterations.' 


Hanau,  March  20, 1782. 
Sir — Very  dear  Major  General: 

Lieutenant  Thomas  handed  me,  on  his  return,  your  letter,  dated 
on  Long  island,  July  21st,  1781.  I  thank  you  for  the  good  advice 
given  by  you  to  this  officer,  to  return  to  Europe;  for  his  journey  to 
Canada  would  have  been  altogether  unnecessary  under  the  allored 
condition  of  affiurs.  Afterwards,  in  fact,  only  a  few  weeks  since,  I 
received  your  other  letter,  dated  at  Quebec,  October  20th,  1781.  By 
this,  I  perceive  that  you  have  safely  arrived  in  Canada  with  the  men 
whom  you  took  with  you  to  New  York,  and  that,  after  your  arrival, 
the  command  of  fill  the  German  troops  was  given  you  by  General 
Haldimand.  This  makes  the  knowledge  of  your  safe  arrival  in 
Canada  the  pleasanter  to  me,  since  I  know  that  my  troops  there  are 
again  under  your  command.  I  commend  them  to  your  best  care  and 
strict  supei-vision ;  and  I  beg  you  not  to  overlook  the  least  irregularity : 
but,  on  the  contrary,  to  hold  my  staff"  and  other  officers  to  a  strict 


>  The  hereditary  prince,  according  to  this  postscript,  did  not  receive  this  letter, 
containinjj;  liic  justlBcatlon  of  Gall,  until  the  letter  was  flulshed.  He  had  been 
dismissed  for  returning  to  Europe  without  the  conseut  of  tlio  hereditary  prince. 


TO  GEN.  niEDEHEUS  VAMPAION. 


219 


performance  of  their  duty.  You  will,  therefore,  oblige  me  very  much, 
if  you  will  see  not  only  that  the  service  of  the  king  does  not  suffer, 
but  that  everything  that  is  due  my  troops  be  given  them,  both  of 
money  and  of  rations.  But  if,  notwithstanding  your  precautions,  an 
officer  is  guilty  in  this  respect,  I  expect  of  you  as  a  native  Hessian, 
and  a  good  countryman,  to  inform  me  at  once  that  Hessian  honor  may 
be  preserved.  I  shall  be  especially  grateful  to  you  for  pursuing  this 
course. 

As  I  have  introduced  the  Brunswick  method  of  paying  the  first 
battalion  of  my  regiment  which  is  in  Canada,  but  have  not  been  able 
to  obtain  a  correct  idea  of  the  modus  ojKmndi,  I  refjucst  you  to  send 
me  a  detailed  account  by  the  first  opportunity. 

I  am  under  infinite  obligations  for  the  news  contained  in  your 
favors.  I  inclose  a  copy  of  my  letter  sent  you  on  the  30th  of  August, 
1781,  in  case  you  may  not  have  received  it. 

Please  inform  my  staff  officers  of  the  time  of  tiie  sailing  of  the 
packets  that  they  may  write  me. 

Lieutenant  Le  Blanc,  who  is  destined  for  my  corps  of  yiigers,  and 
who  comes  with  sixty-two  recruits  for  said  corps,  will  hand  you  this 
letter.    I  hope  it  will  find  you  w'ell,  and  I  remain,  etc., 

William,  Hereditary  Prince  at  Hessia. 

WiLiiELMSBAD,  October  27, 1783, 
Sir  —  Very  dear  Lieutenant  General : 

Your  letter  of  July  8th,  with  the  inclosed  documents,  I  received 
on  the  21st  of  October,  this  month. 

You  have  given  me  great  pleasure  in  sending  these  papers,  and 
the  interesting  news  concerning  my  troops.  I  ask  that  you  will,  as  a 
special  mark  of  friendship,  keep  a  strict  watch  over  my  officers  that  no 
excesses  be  committed.  If  any  such  however,  do  occur  against  my 
express  wishes,  kindly  inform  me  at  once  that  they  may  be  stopped  and 
order  once  more  restored.  I  shall  consider  this  an  act  of  particular 
friendship,  and  a  great  attention  to  the  Hessian  service. 

You  will  have  the  goodness  to  forward  the  inclosed  letters  to  their 
proper  destination. 

I  will  endeavor  to  repay  these  kindnesses  whenever  an  opportunity 
occurs,  and  remain 

Your  earnest  and  well  disposed  friend, 

William,  Hereditary  Prince  at  Hessia. 


28* 


i 


Ti  .1- 


»"? 


i'iO 


OFF/VIAL  DOiWMENTS  RELATINO 


KHDKR  TO  TIIK  EXCHANGED  STAFF  AND  OTIIEK  OFFICERS  OP  THE 
FIRST  BATTALION  OF  THE  IIES3IA  IIANAU  REOIMENT,  ERBPRINCE, 
AND  ARTILLERY  OF  THE  ARMY  OP  THE  CONVENTION. 

The  stair  and  other  ofllcers  of  the  1st  battalion  ol'thellesHiallanau 
rejfiment,  Erbprhicc,  aiul  artillery,  are  hereby  ordereil  to  go  by  the 
first  opportunity  after  their  exchange,  Avith  tlie  knowledjic  and  consent 
of  the  commanding  army  of  Great  Britain,  to  the  detachment  of  the 
Ilesae  Hanau  regiment,  Erbprince,  and  artillery,  now  in  Canada. 
They  are  to  carry  out  this  order  fully,  unless  informed  by  the 
generals,  that  the  subaltern  officers  and  privates,  still  in  captivity, 
will  also  soon  be  exchanged.  In  this  latter  case,  tluy  arc  to  remain 
in  New  York  without  our  special  order ;  but  under  no  consideration 
are  they  to  return  to  Europe. 

William,  Hereditary  Prince  at  llanau. 

IIanau,  January  28, 1781. 


A  FEW  LETTERS  OP  THE  HESSIAN  MAJOR  GENERAL  VON  LOOS ' 
TO  MAJOR  GENERAL  RIEDESEL. 

QuEHEC,  January  7, 1782. 
Dear  General : 

1  was  pleased  at  receiving  your "  last  letter.  I  have  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  speaking  with  the  premier"  in  regard  to  your  coming  here, 
lie  said  that  the  roads  would  be  good  toward  March,  when  it  Avould 
be  pleasant  to  travel,  and  he  hoped  to  see  you  here,  etc  ,  etc.  But 
keep  this  dark.  Your  wife,  whom  every  one  loves,  will  be  a  thousand 
times  welcome  here.  I  Avould  strew  her  road  with  flowers,  if  there 
were  any.  I  intend  setting  out  on  my  pilgrimage  on  the  25th  or2Gth 
instant.  As  for  the  rest,  everything  is  quiet.  Next  Wednesday,  we 
are  to  have  a  ball ;  and  the  day  following,  a  concert.  The  whole  price 
of  admission  is  twelve  and  a  half  piasters. 


'  The  Hesgian  major  gcpernl.  Von  Loos,  distinguished  himself  scvorai  timca 
during  the  American  war.  The  reader  must  excuse  us  for  giving  passages  (whicli 
are  occasionally  somewhat  coarse),  as  they  are  in  the  original.  Had  we  omitted 
these  passages,  the  letters  wonld  have  lost  much  of  their  originality.  Tlirough  all 
this  coarseness,  however,  shines  the  earnest,  honest,  and  open  soul  of  a  blufl',  old 
soldier.  Rledcsel,  for  these  qualities,  numbered  him  among  his  most  intimate 
friends.  It  seems  that  while  in  Canada,  the  old  bachelor,  notwithstanding  liia  old 
age  and  sickness,  was  captured  by  the  beauty  of  a  young  lady,  and  had  in  his  head 
an  idea  of  marriage. 

^  The  word  licre  used  iu  the  original  is  the  second  person  singular.  Thy  (dHne), 
an  expression  of  faniiliaritv  and  intimate  friendship.—  Translator. 

•'  Tiie  Canadian  governor. 


4 
* 


TO  uaN.  lUEDEnaVli  VA.WJ'AJON. 


221 


Next  Satiu'diiy  is  a  coMeraathn.  Wc  pltiy,  ami  at  ten  o'clock  a 
side-table  is  set  out  with  cold,  fried  meat,  ham  and  ca]<c,  and  each 
one  eats  on  Ids  own  liooiv.'  Resides  the  regular  niemhers,  there  arc 
invited  guests.  Eight  days  since  it  was  held  at  Coelirane's,  and  day 
before  yesterday  at  Murray's,  who,  with  Calwell,  has  the  gout.  Tin; 
next  one  will  be  at  Launandiere. 

There  Is  no  news  here;  most  everything  jogs  along  at  the  old 
gait.  1  wish  you  health  and  good  weather  for  your  journey.  I  feel 
this  miserable  weather  in  my  stomach  and  nerves.  My  Hitter"  is 
sick,  and  I  fear  he  will  have  the  consumption. 

By  the  way,  it  is  said  that  there  will  be  a  ball  at  the  premier's. 
The  people  here  kill  themselves  with  eating.  Clarke  intends  visiting 
the  country  in  February,  and  you  will  Hu'n  have  a  new  guest. 
Whether  he  will  travel  as  one  who  knows  the  country,  and  return 
a  learned  man,  time  must  show. 

My  regards  to  Lady  Fritz  and  the  dear  cliildren. 

Loos. 


QuEUKC,  Feb.  14, 1782. 
Dear  General : 

Although  my  stomach  is  again  all  right,  my  mind  is  still  dark.  I 
can,  therefore,  only  report  briefly  that  Mnrdy  Ora»  has  been  cele- 
brated as  usual,  but  sam  souper! 

General  Clarke  left  here  last  Monday  with  Tkkil. 

The  concerts  still  continue,  but  on  the  37th  will  take  place  —  N.  B.  — 
a  heretic  ball;  and  week  after  next,  one  for  the  ladies  at  the 
premier's.         ******** 

Be  sure  and  not  forget  to  inform  me  at  once  when  Clarke  starts 
from  Sorel  to  Camaraska,  in  order  that  I  may  go  on  the  frozen  rivers 
in  my  sleigh;  otherwise,  I  may  be  prevented  by  tlic  season  of  the 
year. 

Now  ivsk  Lady  Fritz  wiiat  they  say  of  me  'i 

Everything  that  is  good. 

Do  they  miss  our  company  V 

Yes,  very  much. 

Do  they  love  our  children  V 

Who  would  not  love  them. 

Do  they  miss  Cordelia  ? ' 


'  Literally  "  out  of  his  own  flst,"  an  idloraatic  oxprasalon  answering  to  the  one  la 
thu  text.—  Translator. 
»  A  HesBlan  brigadier  major,  and  adjutant  to  General  Loos. 
» A  young  and  amiable  Canadian  lady  who  frequently  visited  the  Riedesels. 


i»:5 


"^'f't. 


OFFICIAL  DOVUUEN'rH  UHLATINO 


Ali.yi'rt!    All,  yes! 

And  one  HliijfH  the  air, 

Cordelia!  Cordelia  1 

I  woidd  llmt  you  were  licre. 

I  know  iiolliinj?  more  to  write  to  day,  except  my  respK.lM.    More 

in  the  future. 

Your  servant, 

Loos. 

P.  8.  By  the  way,  has  the  handkerchief  of  Dame  Jeanette  been  of 
any  Hcrviee  to  you  V  Hhe  wants  you  to  send  her  in  |)lace  of  it,  a  cast 
otfeape  of  your  wife. 


St.  Aonack,  h)h.  17,  1783. 
Dear  General : 

T  received  your  letter  on  my  return  from  Camaraska.  It  is  easy 
for  you  to  laugh  at  the  trouble  I  have  in  regard  to  this  /iri(/(t(lwr 
triii'tdintnt,  for  if  it  does  not  continue,  then  tin?  war  will  begin  afresh, 
as  the  pay  rolls  arc  to  he  handed  in  anew.  Then,  in  case  the  pre- 
mier strikes  off  the  pay,  I  can  claim  no  more  than  the  pay  of  a  major 
general  and  refuse  the  i)ay  of  a  brigadier;  and.inasnuieh  as  I  desire 
to  be  on  good  terms  with  the  old  fellow,  this  dd  capo  of  a  misunder- 
standing (aside  from  the  loss)  would  be  very  unpleasant. 

I  have  much  trouble  with  the  drunken  capers  of  Peuscli.  I  shall 
go  there  the  beginning  of  March.  We  have  no  bridges  this  year, 
and  on  a  canoe  I  am  a  poltroon  even  when  there  is  no  danger. 

The  Zcrbstans  I  found  in  very  good  order,  and  in  fact  am  i)articii- 
larly  pleased  with  them.  Fountain  river  is  a  little  Eden.  It  has  a 
s])lendid  location  and  very  pretty  houses.  Thank  you  heartily  for 
the  news,  oidy  let  the  news  of  jjcace  continue,  ilow  is  Monsieur 
McLean  V  Give  the  old  Foie-spitter  my  respects.  How  ia  Barner, 
who  is  with  St.  Leger,  Madame  Johnson  and  Cammel .'  and,  linally, 
la  belle  Vonntunfe  n  perdu  Hon  iiiormm  de  puecllnfje. 

And  now  you  are  omv,  more  in  po.ssession  of  our  dear  Cordelia. 
Kiss  her  tifteen  times  in  my  name.  I  heartily  rejoice  to  hear  that 
j'our  dearest  Lady  Fritz  is  getting  better.  No  one  can  be  more 
intercsteil  in  lier  welfare  than  I  am,  although  every  one  honors  her, 
and  she  deserves  it. 

I  cannot  brag  over  my  health.  I  have  little  sleep,  and  no  appetite, 
although  I  ride  in  a  sleigh  from  three  to  four  hours  every  day. 
With  this  object,  I  have  bought  mc  the  third  light  b.ay  horse.  By 
the  bye,  do,  1  beg,  take  pity  on  my  poor  beard  and  my  blood-letting, 
for  1  have  not  a  single  anny  singeon  wlio  understands  it.  Have  you, 
among  your  recruits  or  privates,  one  who  is  on  expert  at  this  business  ? 


TO  tIk'N.  nit:i)KSKVS  IMMPAtUfr. 


228 


If  you  Imvc,  I  will  iniiki!  liim  an  army  surgeon  and  give  you  a  for- 
eigner in  cxcliango.  KcHsler,  whom  I  itromottHl  to  corporal  in  con- 
Bcqufucc  of  your  n'comnu'udationH,  Htiyn  tlicre  are  Honie  among  your 
troops. 

Allien,  ilcar  friend.    One  tiiousand  eomplimcnits  to  your  whole 
house  from  the  roof  to  the  cellar. 

liOOH. 


La  PiiAiiiiE,  Mitirh  1(1,  17H2. 
Dear  General : 

I  arrived  hero  yesterday  in  (ifly  minutes,  aiul  went  at  once  w  itli 
Kreusburg  to  tlie  Indian  village  of  Chachenuagua.  Dined  well  at 
nocm;  listened  to  a  duet  of  Hoclicrini  in  theatlernoon;  played  whist; 
souped  d  III  lileluimii;  went  to  ))ed  at  ten  o'clock  ;  got  up  at  seven  ; 
drank  tea;  and  at  nine  shall  start  for  St.  .lohns.  Tlience  to-morrow 
for  Sorel,  and  so  on,  when  I  shall  be  rid  of  all  uninifestations  of 
kindness  and  friendship. 

I  suppose  tluit  Lady  Fritz  is  now  in  Montreal.  Pray  give  her  my 
respects,  as  also.  Id  heUe  Conklid  and  the  childrtin.  Kreusburg 
desires  to  bo  remembered,  and  I  am,  dear  general. 

Votre  obeissnnt, 

Loos. 

My  regards  to  friend  Specht.       ' 


QiJEHEC,  Afurch  38,  1782. 
Dear  General  : 

You  luive  my  humblest  thaidis  for  all  the  military  honors  shown 
me.  I  pray  you  to  lumd  to  Chamberlain  Von  Poelhiilz  this  golden 
souvenir  set  with  brilliants,  also  my  portrait  surrounded  witli  rubies. 
All  .joking  apart,  Poellnitz  is  a  "  tip  lop"  man  ;  aiul  if  1  were  as 
rich  us  my  sovereign  I  would  —  well  — 

1  arrived  here  last  Sunday,  the  24th,  aliout  si.\  o'clock.  The  roads 
were  very  bad,  especially  the  passage  over  St.  Anna,  where  I  came 
very  near  drowning. 

I  was  overrun  at  St.  Johns  with  marks  of  politeness ;  and,  so  far  as 
the  weather  allowed,  every  attention  was  shown  me,  so  that  I  can 
mention  exactly  every  tavern ;  for  I  visited  them  all  with  General 
Clarke,  in  his  covered  carriole,  at  Montreal,  St.  John,  etc. 

How  is  Lady  Fritz  V    Deposit  my  thanks  and  respects  on  her 


'  Mr.-.  General  Rtedegel. 


I 


w^ 


-24 


OFFICIAL  ItOWMFSTS  HKLATINO 


corns.  Till  belle  Cordeliii,  en  conleur  tic  rone,  ni'occniM' Jour  el  niiit. 
Le  (liiilile  einporh!  ce  ")!» ;  hMI  ,1'etolt  30.  AUons,  un  enlevenicnl  ponr- 
vit  turiver.  iMllle  conipliin.  i\  In  lielle,  conime  iiuhhI  i\  voire  chore 
(lUiidrllle  et  H-iite. 

Tile  eonverHiiilonH  will  soon  In,'  iinuln  nil  the  riij,'e.  On  the  0th  of 
April,  there  will  he  a  t/rinu/  nmtiiiihl/c  at  my  house;  antl  on  IheOlli 
all  the  liachelors  will  jfive  a  hall  at  Fil/fieruld'.M.  Cossane  Inw 
entered  a  monastery,  and  will  he  a  Franeisean  monk  in  six  months. 

Praetorlus  mu.st  drill  dill^fently.  I  constantly  hold  up  to  him  yottr 
two  regiments.  How  is  our  i>remiery  when  will  he  eomeV  How 
are  you  all?    An  answer  to  all  this  is  expected  hy 

Your  failhliil 

LOUH. 


tii!K»KO,  April  3, 1782. 
Dear  (Jenernl : 

I  have  just  received  your  dear  letter,  and  attended  to  the  ono 
inclosed.  I  am  very  sorry  that  Poellnitz  lost  his  het.  How  could 
the  crazy  devil  ever  u;et  it  into  his  head  to  reckon  on  my  generosity, 
when  I  linve  not  a  drop  of  that  ((uality  in  my  veins?  H'Lady  Fritz 
had  her  dozen  tea-cups  again,  instead  of  the  broken  ones,  she  might 
thank  Ood. 

Every  body  here  wants  either  a  peace  or  an  armistice ;  but  your 
letter  foreshadows  important  summer  events.  If  you  anticipate  any- 
thing certain  in  regard  to  a  siege,  tell  \w,  xiih  roxK ;  fori  have  !),000 
Ihalers  in  cash  witli  me,  which  1  shoidd  like  lo  place  in  a  sale  place. 

The  peo|)lc  here  give  their  bread  with  more  grace  and  good  will 
lliMii  tliose  of  Montreal.  1  like  tiuebec  a  thousand  times  belter. 
Wlial  say  you  and  Lady  Fritz  V 

Cochrane  (inuix  ciitre  iioiik),  not  to  have  much  money  in  the  fund 
tiiough  he  has  some  with  the  >  .erchants.  In  case  of  a  siege,  however, 
the  latter  will  not  "  shell  out."  He  tries  lo  borrow  money,  but  nniy  the 
devil  trust  him.  He  tells  me  that  if  the  city  is  besieged,  I  am  an 
undone  man.    This,  however,  is  entirely  between  us. 

Holland  Avent  to  Montreal  this  morrun,;"  He  is  reported  lo  have 
betrayed  some  stale  secrets.  He  i'^  'ory  Kicly  afraid  of  the  whip, 
and  will  try  to  make  it  all  right  with  the  premier  by  deny'.ng  it. 
He  is — well,  you  know  him. 

Here  is  a  bill  of  fare  for  Lady  Fritz's  scrutiny.  I  recommend  both 
it  and  myself  to  her. 

J'aurois  souhaile  de  tout  mon  coeur  (pie  sa  presence  auroitembellec 
ou  illustrue  ma  fete,  el  ipie  la  belle  Couleur  dc  Hose  auroit  misc  tout 


itt 


To  fit:\.  nih:i>KsKi;s  vami'Mun. 


286 


|p  cociir  I'll  roiiiilliiiliDiis  coiume  dlo  ii  ii  Montrcul  et  Sorcl  Corddlo 
toiiH  k'Hclntiiiaficiilin. 

My  n-HpwlH  to  llic  di-iir  cliildien  and  milt,  cHpeclnlly  to  my  di'iir 
CliunilHTlin.     Willoc  slinll  n't  urn  tlic  lict  if  ever  1  lii'conic  llciitwiiuit 
gciicnd.     Borrowing,'  is  in  it,  i.^iviiiK- 
I  lun,  im  iklwuyH, 

Voire  tidt'lc  scrvilfur, 

LnoH. 
I  have  over  thirty  ladicH.    Oli  dear! 


Tlie  (Irst  Iciif  WHS  toiii  oil'  and 
#  »  #  » 


QifKiiKc,  .1;)//'  11,  I7H2. 
Dear  (lencrul : 

I  limnii  you  for  your  last  It'tti 
thrown  into  llic  tiro  out  of  Joy. 

Entcrtaininir,  as  1  do  at  prcscnl,  thirty  liidii'sand  cijiiity  ^jcntlciiucn, 
you  will  excuse  me  for  finding  lliein  a  WiWv  horn  In  Kiiimin.  What  a 
pleasure  there  is  in  ijcintr  al)le  hauj^htily  to  say  to  an  uiijjrateful  and 
unfeeliiif?  ruler  and  to  my  overhearini,'  miniHier,  "  I  will  not  serve  you 
any  longer." 

Now  let  ns  speak  of /«  fhere  Voiiliuv  dc  lltm-.  Ac  rorur  niiiiiiii'wr  d 
hattrc.  Had  1  hut  seen  her  twenty  years  a;^o !  Hut  it  is  now  too 
late,  and  I  will  therefore  hid  adieu  to  all  ideas  of  marriage.  Jeanette ' 
"  don't  see  it,"  and  declines  with  thanks  ;  and,  knowing  me,  exclaims, 
"  Well, hrigadier,  what  would  you  do  with  the  young  and  lovely  giriy 
The  prudent,  good  and  (Usar  (Seneial  Uiedesel  is  smarter  than  you  ! " 
A  glass  of  Madeira  heing  on  the  tahle  jnst  then,  I  drank  your  health. 

But  as  the  messenger  has  arrived  and  intends  returning  at  onec^,  I 

must  close.    My  respects  to  Lady  Fritz,  ct  d  ma  trcx  rhim  el  belle 

Cordelia. 

Loos. 


Qi'KiiKf,  .\f,i!j  3,  1783. 
Dear  General : 

I  hope  my  last  letter  has  safely  reached  you.  There  is  no  news 
except  we  arc  expecting  the  ships  hourly. 

I  sec  that  you  arc  of^en  engaged  in  llshing.  Here  there  arc  no  tish 
whatever.  Catch  me  two  or  three  gold  tish  and  pack  them  up  for  me. 
If  they  cost  anything,  I  will  pay  it ;  if  not,  so  much  the  hetter.  In  any 
case  they  shall  be  eaten  to  your  health. 

The  premier  is  daily  expected.  He  is  said  to  he  extremely 
attentive  to  the  French  in  Montreal,  which  greatly  pleases  the  English. 

L(K)H. 

'  Loos's  housulcueper. 


♦ 


22fi 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS  ItELATlNO 


il- 
ls: 


QuKUEC,  Mitji  20,  1783. 
Diiir  (Iciipral: 

A  sliip  IVdin  liivorpool  tinivcil  nl  Pic  on  llio  IHtli  iiist.,  bciuiiif;  a 
(lisimtch  to  OciuTiil  Ilaldiiusuul.  A  nitrclianl,  by  tlic  nniiK'  of  Hlinw 
icaclu'd  here  ycstcrdiiy.  You  will  sec  tlmt  a  new  ininistry  liiis  bt'cn 
tbrnicd.  The  coniinons  ami  the  people  liavc  done  It!  When  tlic 
news  of  the  loss  of  St.  Kill's  arrivetl  there,  every  body  was  excited  and 
exclaimed,  "  Another  ministry  or  no  kinu;!"  This  helped.  Sir  (Uiy 
Carleton  has  been  appointed  commander  in  chi(;f,  and  takes  Clinton's 
place.  Major  Williams  is  in  eonunand  of  the  artillery  in  New  York. 
Thus,  ^Ir.  Hean  remains  here.  v 

At  the  time  of  Shaw's  departure  it  was  rumored  that  s<mic  difH- 
culty  had  arisen  between  Sir  (Juy  and  the  ministry,  and  that  the 
former  had  refused  to  accept  the  command.  >'t  fiihnln  rem  cxt. 
Jlinorca  is  lost !  Oli  dear!  New  York,  it  is  said,  will  be  the  place 
d\irme»  ;  and  everything  is  on  the  defensive.  The  English  are  about 
to  leave  the  islands.  Many  transports  are  comint;  from  Enj^land  to 
New  York  aiul  this  jilace.  What  say  yon  to  all  this?  Viiltieoun 
in>lr<'  jitnUii ! 

Durinij,'  the  last  four  days  I  have  been  very  sick  with  fever.  I  had 
forty  iiassM^es  in  sixteen  hoiu's  !  but  Dr.  Berens  has  made  me  better. 
How  is  Lady  Fritz  '<    God  preserve  you  both  and  your  dear  family. 

********* 

Have  you  heard  anything  of  the  German  or  Hanoverian  troops 
coining  over  here '!  AV'rite  me  about  it.  Now  don't  mismulerstand 
me.  I  mean  to  say,  that  Hnldimand  is  so  in  love  with  his  Quebec 
garden  and  Montmorency,  that  I  am  surprised  at  his  long  stay  in 
iMoutreal. 

It  is  said  that  several  English  ships  arc  at  Gueph.  I  mistrust 
I  shall  have  to  go  to  New  York  with  my  three  companies.  Victory  I 
There  are  three  hundred  pipes  of  Madeira  at  Guiph.  It'll  be  cheap 
now  !    Give  Murray  the  commission  :  he  understands  it. 

I  kiss  the  hand  of  Lady  Fritz,  and  the  underlip  of  Iklla  Rosa.  A 
thousand  compliments  to  your  children  and  Major  Dorc  (Cleve). 

Loos. 


Quebec,  May  27,  1783. 


Dear  General 
»  * 


*  The  ship  Bellona,  on  which  were  letters  and 

silver  for  me  from  London,  ra-.i  on  a  rock  near  St.  Roc,  twenty 
leagues  from  here,  and  sunk  in   tivc  minutes.    Six  sailors  were 


TO  any.  /{IKOmK/.'S  CAMI'AKIN. 


(Irowncil ;  tlio  rest  saved  themselves  llie  best  tliey  could.  It  is  hoped 
the  letters  mid  several  other  things  will  he  siived.  Fiv(!  more  ships 
from  Kiirope  will  arrive  here  this  divy.  The  I'dndoni,  which  nccom- 
panies  a  traiisporl  with  (iermaii  troops,  soon  al\er  leavin;r  Maliltix, 
met  a  ship  of  twenty-two  guns,  atta('ked  and  ea|)tnred  i(.  She 
returns  with  the  transport  for  repairs,  and  will  jtroliahly,  therefore, 
not  be  here  bi  fon^  June.  An  (^.xjjress  messenger  from  Halifax 
brought  this  news  to  us  to-day.  Now  tell  me,  arc  these  German 
troop,s  from  Brunswick?  Perhaps  they  are  my  two  conii)anies, 
which  arc  expected.  If  this  is  the  ease,  they  must,  in  pursuance  of 
orders  from  the  premier,  ^o  to  Sorel  without  stopping  here.  I  iiavc 
protested  against  it.  The  regiment  ought  not  to  be  (livid(;il  in  lliis 
way. 
I  hope,  with  you,  that  we  shall  be  at  home  in  a  year. 

Your  faithful 

IjOOH. 

P.  S. —  Who  gives  the  dinner  on  the  tburth  of  Junc^ '  at  (iuel)ec  V 


Dear  ( tcneral : 
»  # 


tii!KHKC,  June  115,  1783. 


*  The  premier  went  to  Montmorenci  this 

afternoon.  The  city  was  illuminated  in  the  evening,'^  cm  whidi 
occasion  the  sailors  threw  stones  in  the  windows  of  the  Frencit 
whose  hou.se8  were  not  lighted  up. 

I  am  anxiously  awailing  your  arrival  on  the  l!)th  instant;  and  I 
otfer  you  my  (piarter.;  during  your  soldier's  tour.  I  shall  consider  it 
the  greatest  honor  if  my  friend  will  accept  of  them.  My  respeois  to 
Lady  Fritz,  and  the  rest  of  your  dear  ones,  Cordelia,  of  course, 
inchidccl. 

Loos. 


In  Camp  moak  Poi.nt  Lkvi,  ,/«///  i;{,  1783. 
Cher  ami : 

Your  dear  letter  of  the  Hii.  re  ,■  Ueri  nie.  (mly  Thursday  morning. 
I  inclose  a  copy  of  my  letijr  (<>  .  •  ;'r"mier,  and  expect  from  you 
cither  approbation  or  ceuriiic.  /I  i>  alrcdy  nuiiled,  but  as  j  et  I  have 
received  no  answer. 

I  am  contented  i',  my  can.  p.  I  have  in  a  farm  house,  besides;! 
good  view,  a  nice  room,  bedroom,  kitchen  and  stable.     Hut  no  one 


'  Thu  king's  birtl'.day. 

'•I  Probal)ly  iu  liniiur  oi  tlic    iitory  of  Uoduey  and  lioclover  Admiral  Grasae. 


228 


OFFICIAL  DOCVMENTS  RELATINO 


gets  anytliing  to  cat.  Bankruptcy  is  declared.  Tlic  dear  God  keep 
every  one  from  becoming  a  nnijor  general  in  Canada  !  Unless  tlic 
l)remi(>r  comes  tirst,  1  siian't  call  on  him,  even  if  I  sliould  stay  hens 
six  hundred  thousand  years.  A  bad  (luarri'l,  liowever,  for  a  courtier. 
Your  auditor  has  a  droll  \va^  of  getting  a  wife !    Adieu. 

[iOOB. 

P.  S. —  Kreuzburg  will  tell  you  tlie  news  regarding  the  ten  thalers 
per  deserter ;  both  auditors  of  the  dilfercnt  nationalities  will  have 
trouble.  We,  however,  have  nothing  to  do  with  it.  Those  two  and 
our  sovereigns  must  settle  it  between  them. 


PotNT  Lkvi,  Sept.  20, 1782. 
Cher  ami : 

I  thank  you  very  much  for  the  news,  but  1  still  believe  we  shall 
have  peace. 

The  tiring  of  the  pelotons  ought  most  certainly  to  liavc  been 
stopped  at  once ;  but  the  terniiu  was  too  small,  and  I  was  obliged 
to  give  Rauschenblatt  time  to  retreat,  and  it  was  therefore  necessary 
that  I  lie  tiring  on  that  spot  should  not  be  interrupted.  The  main 
thing  in  executing  such  mana'uvres,  arc  quick  evolutions,  rapid 
movements,  good  positions,  turnings,  strategy,  (tUigiiementu,  and 
marching.  Firing  makes  only  noise,  and  amuses  the  unmilitary 
sjiectators.  I  have  another  manreuvre  which  I  intend  showing  to 
the  premier,  who,  bj'  the  way,  to  the  astonishment  of  every  body, 
is  polite,  when  he  conies  here.  I  will  send  it  to  you  when  tinished. 
Tlie  growler,  however,  will  not  allow  us  to  have  huts,  but  the  com- 
manders will  send  in  a  remonstrance  which  I  will  hand  him  with  my 
remarks.  Only  think,  of  having  tents  which  have  already  served 
three  staiimers,  no  straw,  a  little  wood,  and  no  blankets !  Camaraska, 
will,  in  all  probability,  be  my  winter  quarters. 

AVhat  is  your  opinion  in  regard  to  your  light  and  fuel  in  winter? 

Can  I  not  demand  a  proper  house  suitable  to  my  rank?    I  perfectly 

agree  with  you  on  the  matter  of  subordination,  and  I  rejoice  we  think 

so  much  alike. 

Loos. 


19  Odohci: 
C'licrnmi: 

iMy  oxen,  sheep,  cattle,  iiigs,  capons,  and  ducks  were  killed  for 
breakfast,  on  Tluirsday.  It  was  good  weatlier.  Tlie  guests  —  but 
read  the  text  in  the  Bi!)le.    I  cannot  nudvc  any  mana'uvres  at  present, 


TO  QEN.  nWDESEVS  VAUVAIGM. 


229 


as  tho  territory  is  all  iiiuler  water.  I  must  Iiavc  a  liouse  correspond- 
ing' with  ni3'  rank;  otherwise,  I  shall  forcibly  take  one  and  get 
myself  again  into  trouble. 

Loos. 

P. 8.— Answer  me.  It  is  damnable  that  the  old  fellow'  should 
make  a  secret  of  the  winter  quartere.  This  causes  me  a  loss  of  sixty 
piasters,  which  I  have  to  pay  to  Madame  Lanandierc,  according  to 
contract,  for  house  hire  per  quarter.  Duke  Ferdinand  had  secrets, 
too,  but  he  furnished  free  quarters.  It  is  easy  for  you  to  laugh ;  you 
live  in  your  manor  house  at  8orel,  free  and  easy  like  a     *        *        * 


Cai'k  St.  Ionack,  Nuvembcr  4, 1783. 
Glisr  (imi  : 

I  will  brierty  inform  you  tiiat  1  am  in  quarters  here;  also,  that  to 
my  sorrow,  all  my  most  valuable  elfects  were  covered  with  sand  and 
mud  during  the  last  storm  between  the  first  and  second.  The  sliip 
stranded ;  and  I  have  now  no  dry  bed,  clothing  or  shirts.  All  my 
winter  supplies  are  destroyed,  and  I  have,  therefore,  nothing  to  cat. 
^ly  sugar,  tea  and  colFee  are  also  entirely  destroyed.  Ritter  and 
Jcannctte  sit  naked  near  the  stove. 

This  is  all  on  account  of  the  premier,  who,  without  ruimii  dc 
gmre,  sends  the  troops  into  winter  (piarters.  Not  a  single  year  has 
passed  that  the  soldiers  have  not  lost  their  baggage.  If  there  were 
any  necessity  for  it,  or  if  tho  war,  or  other  circiunstances,  demanded  it, 
d  Id  boime  heure;  but  to  imitate  the  German  Frederick  in  Canada,  is 
not  only  ridiculous  but  cruel.  Who  pays  the  poor  subaltern  for  his 
losses?  The  farmers  howl,  too,  because,  owing  to  the  terrible!  roads, 
their  horses,  harnesses,  carts  and  everything  else  go  to  the  devil.  It 
cannot  be  on  account  of  economy,  for  the  government  has  to  |)ay  for 
t'e  stranded  vessels.  For  tlie  regiment  of  Lossberg,  alone,  it  must 
pa,  i,)r  two,  to  say  nothing  of  the  regiments  Zerl)st  and  Ilanau,  nor 
oF'i.c  expenses  for  wood  consumed  at  the  camp  at  this  late  season  of 
M>e  year. 

I  am  laeiancholy,  and  gaze  with  sad  (!yes  at  my  once  beautiful 
t.iuiigs  I  have  nothing  to  eat  either,  at  least  not  much.  My  respects 
to  Ludy  Fritz.  I  hope  her  confinement  will  terminate  happiij' with  a 
son.    To  the  children  one  hundred  thousand  compliments. 

LoosriTS,  Misantropos. 


•  Tlic  premier,  HuMimntid,  also  called  l)y  onv  friend  Loot?,  '•  tlio  growler."- 
lYamlator. 


•I 


230 


OFFICIAL  DOVVMUNTS  ItELATING 


St.  Iunace,  November  10, 1782. 
3Iy  dearest  Frientl : 

I  have  only  to-day  received  your  dear  letter  of  the  4th  inst.  I 
congratuhitc  you,  with  all  my  lieart,  on  the  liappy  confinement  of 
dear  Lady  Fritz.  I  sliould  have  given  a  great  deal  for  tlie  lionor  of 
being  able  to  name  a  male  heir,  and  to  have  had  him  renounce  tlie 
devil  end  liis  crew  tliroiigh  me.  *  *  *  *.  now  much 
would  I  not  enjoy  the  lionor  of  paying  you  a  visit ;  but  the  dreadfully 
bad  roads  and  a  hundred  other  circumstances  will  not  permit  me  this 
pleasure.  I  take  the  liberty,  therefore,  to  request  my  chamberlain. 
Captain  Von  Pf>^llnitz,  to  represent  me  on  the  occasion.  My  name 
is  Johann  Augu  You  have  an  Augusta  How  would  the  name 
of  Jeannette  or  Lo,  '^    *  ■•■iver  r    Choose  one  of  the  two. 

Want  of  time  w...  [i.  .I'nt  my  writing  to  Poellnitz  myself.  This 
letter  must  suffice.  i.\\  ■•iress  has  no  time  to  lose,  as  the  nuiil  goes 
to-morrow.  I  close,  hoping  iluit  mother  and  daughter  are  doing  well, 
and  are  favorably  inchned  toward  their  servant.  I  will  attend  to  my 
godchild,  and  will  not  forget  the  litile  ring.  I  trust  slie  will  be  as 
pure  and  virtuous  as  her  father. 

God  be  with  you. 

Loos. 


St.  Ionace,  Kov.  24, 1782. 
Dearest  Friend : 

I  have  received  your  dear  godfather  letter.  I  thank  you  very 
much  for  this  honor;  and  since  you  are  the  executor  of  my  will,3'ou 
may  know  that  I  have  willed  to  my  godchild,  one  hundred  Louis 
d'or  for  a  ring  or  earrings.  I  say  expressly  a  ring  as  a  lasting  keep- 
sake, for  it  dtx's  not  break  easily,  and,  in  case  of  necessity,  can  be 
pawned  to  Jew  or  Christian.  I  hope  you  and  Lady  Fritz  will  not 
thiidi  badlj'  of  me  for  not  making  the  sinn  more.  But  since  every 
one  is  bound  to  cut  me  down,  1  must  cut  down  too. 

Pastor  Mylius,'  also,  is  too  good  an  apostle  to  take  more  than  his 
sainted  colleague,  John.  He  took  for  ^ach  baptism  wild  honey  and 
locusts,  and  I  will  send  him  (Mjiius),  the  same  next  spring.  Ad  in- 
terim, give  him  a  jiieco  of  fried  veal,  for  I  owe  it  to  him.  Dear 
Miss  Augusta  as  godmother,  shall  have  from  Caldwell's  garden  the 
little  flower,  forget-me-not,  for  which  she  is  to  give  me  a  powder  bag 
of  (?r(/7)  (?'((/Yy<'«(*  embroidered  with  gold.  Midwives,  and  all  servant 
girls  in  certain  delicate  situations,  sliall  receive  salt  provisions  for 


(iciiornl  Uii'deKcrs  family  dmplaln.— TVa/wfa^or. 


TO  GKX.  RIEDESEVS  CA.VPAIOX. 


281 


five  days,  tlirough  my  scale  master,  for  which  they  sliall  pay  the 
customary  price ;  aud  tlius,  every  body  is  attended  tc,  and  my  gene- 
rosity is  establislicd. 
Wliat  is  the  news  from  the  enemy  ?    Answer  soon. 

Tout  d  muH, 

Loos. 

St.  Ionace,  Dec.  2, 1783. 
Dear  General : 

I  am  dry.  My  sourkrout,  cabbage,  sugar,  coffee,  etc.,  are  all  gone 
to  the  devil.    I  presume  you  hav^e  received  my  last  letter. 

Here  is  a  list  of  tlie  officers  at  the  time  of  their  being  in  camp 
near  Wincliestor,  and  while  in  quarters  at  Andover.  It  lias  occupied 
me  six  liours ;  and  I  am  certain  it  is  correct,  unless  I  have  made  a 
mistalie  about  your  troops ;  the  little  Schimmel  and  Mi.ss  Dans  con- 
fused me.    Do  not  fail  to  inform  me  liow  tlie  dispute  terminates. 

From  the  bottom  of  my  soul  I  wish  Lady  Fritz  a  speedy  recovery. 
I  send  her  and  Miss  godmotlier  my  best  respects.  But  what  have 
I  done  to  my  beautiful  Fritz  that  she  does  not  speak  of  me  V 

Adieu, 

Loos. 

If  any  of  you  doubt  the  correctness  of  tlie  list  I  will  bet  him  wliat 
he  likes ;  but  Kospath  and  Mandorf  will  explain  it. 


The  Cape,  March  37,  178!J. 
Dear  (.Jenerul : 

I  received  your  letter  of  tlie  9tli  instant,  on  my  return  from  my 
tour  to  tlie  Ilanau  regiment.  I  would  have  undertaken  a  journey 
from  Laubisniere  over  Platoii  to  Quebec,  or  any  other  place  desig- 
nated by  you,  but  think  of  tlie  awful  bother '  of  a  week  ago  Wednes- 
day, the  lOtli ;  it  not  only  destroyed  tlie  bridge,  but  overtook  me 
between  St.  Croix  aud  Laubinier,  so  tliat  I  arrived  at  SchOlle  lialf 
dead.  Tunderfeld  reported  to  me  on  my  return,  the  news  in  regard  to 
peace.  This  >>•  very  desirable  news;  but  of  wliat  use  is  it,  if  tlic  king 
of  England  wishes  for  it,  and  tlie  otlier  party  [side]  does  not?'' 


'  The  meaning  of  this  word  iR  not  clear.  Probably  it  refers  to  the  breaking  up 
of  the  ice,  or  some  similar  catastrophe. 

^  From  this  remarlc,  as  well  as  many  others  of  a  similar  import  in  Riedescl's  cor- 
respondence, it  cannot  bnl  he  observed  that  the  Americans  do  not  appear  to  havo 
been  exhausted  by  tlieir  seven  years'  war  for  independence.  On  the  contrary,  the 
opinion  of  their  enemies  seems  to  havo  been  that  they  were  still  fresli  and  perfectly 
williuK  to  continue  the  war  unless  brought  to  a  close  on  their  own  terms. 


282 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS  IlELATINO 


I  am  not  well,  but  feel  badly  all  over.  Send  mc  your  plan  of  opera- 
tions, and  do  not  forget  to  answer  tlie  points  in  my  last  letter.  I  am 
very  sorry  for  your  own  ill  liealtb,  and  hope  you  may  soon  recover, 
and  with  Lady  Fritz,  and  your  servant,  may  long  enjoy  ourselves  in 
Europe. 

I  bear  of  nothing  new  in  my  desert;  if  you  hear  of  anything  let 
me  know.    But  once  more,  send  me  your  plan  of  operations  without 

fail. 

Loos. 
Jeannette  and  Hitter  send  their  respects. 


Cape  St.  Icinace,  April  1, 1783. 
Dearest  Friend : 

The  inclosed  is  a  request  by  the  granting  of  which  you  may  earn 
an  armchair,  or,  ^>ast,  a  bencli  in  Heaven,  and  by  which,  also,  you 
will  very  miic-.ii  oliiige  Monseigneur  and  the  whole  theological  faculty 
in  Canada.  Giant  the  petition  if  possible.  There  are  a  great  many 
Thomases  li'i'",  who  doubt  that  peace  is  at  hand,  and  call  the  speech 
of  the  king  bi):>i.      W.ku  vm  you  think  of  it? 

Loos. 


CLINTONS  MEMORABLE  UETUEAT  FROM  I'lIIl  ADELPIHA  TO 
NEW  YORK,  "IN  THE  YEAR  1778. 

[From  the  Journal.] 

The  American  papers  finally  furnish  us  witli  a  narrative  of  the 
splendid  retreat  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton  from  Philadelphia  to  New 
York.  General  Washington  and  all  Americans  already  believed 
that  tliey  had  "  IJurgoynized"  tins  army  (as  they  are  in  the  habit  of 
expressing  tliemselves  in  their  public  journals),  and  they  tilled  their 
glasses  witli  bumpers  on  account  of  the  anticipated  surrender  of 
Clinton's  army.  Tiiey  l)oasted  of  their  laurels,  and  congress  in  its 
resolution  of  the  7th  of  Julj',  cannot  sufticiently  praise  the  bravery 
and  activity  of  General  Washington  at  tlie  important  victory  over  the 
Englisli  near  Monmouth  Court  House.  But  the  retreat  of  General 
Clinton  was  really  great,  and  resulted  happily  with  little  loss ;  while 
the  Americans,  on  the  otiier  hand,  do  not  themselves  knoAv  which 
of  their  commanders  did  his  duty.  The  court  martial,  however, 
which  atlerwards  sat  upon  the  American  major  general,  Lee,  soon 
placed  tlie  matter  in  a  brighter  light ;  and  confusion,  equivocal  con- 


TO  QKN.  KIKDEHEVS  VAMPAION. 


2H8 


duct,  irresolution  niul  a  nianu'uveringwitliout  purpose  were  sliowu  to 
liave  cluiracterizetl  tlic  ooiuluct  of  most  of  tlie  American  commanders, 
for  all  of  which  Major  General  Lee  had  to  pay  with  iiis  honor  hy 
being  suspended  from  his  command  for  a  whole  year. 


EXTRACT  FROM  A  LETTER  OF  MAJOR  (iEXERAL  PHILLIPS  TO  LOUD 
GEORGE  GERMAIN,  DATED  CHARLOTTESVILLE,  IN  THE  COLNTY  OF 
ALBERMARLE,  VIRGINIA,  MARCH  20,  177!). 

I  take  the  liherty  of  going  beyond  the  limits,  allowed  me  by  your 
lordship,  to  i)uhlicly  acknowledge  in  my  report,  the  good  conduct  of 
the  Gennan  troops  (under  the  command  of  Major  General  Von  Hied- 
esel),  in  the  service  of  his  majesty.  The  conduct  of  the  otlicers  and 
soldiers  was  exemplary,  and  they  are  to  be  respected  as  faithful  com- 
panions, in  misfortune,  of  their  comrades,  tlie  English  soldiers,  during 
the  manifold  changes  in  their  unfortunate  situation.  I  have  found  in 
General  Kiedesel  the  greatest  possible  attention  to  the  duties  of  his 
position.  He  was  always  the  same  in  his  care  for  his  German  troops, 
in  maintaining  order,  and  in  keeping  up  harmony  and  good  fellow- 
ship between  tlie  English  and  German  troops.  In  short,  he  was 
thoroughly  indnied  witli  tlie  duties  of  his  majesty's  service. 


LETTER  FROM  THE  HESSIAN  GENERAL  VON  L08SBERG  TO  GENERAL 

VON   RIEDESEL. 

Mounis  House,  Dec.  8,  1780. 

Your  honor's  letter  reached  me  safely  ycisterday ;  and  I  herewith 
tender  you  my  sincere  thanks  for  the  intelligence  which  you  have  so 
kindly  communicated  to  me.  According  to  the  news  here,  General 
Washington  has  left  his  head  quarters  at  Totowa,  and  the  rel)el  army 
its  camp  between  the  Passaic  and  the  Ilackinsack  rivers,  and  have 
marched  seven  miles  over  AVest  Point  into  winter  (piarters,  where 
the  army  is  to  build  huts  in  the  mountains  between  Newburgh  and 
Wilmanton.    The  head  quarters  are  at  Windsor. 

I  have  not  as  yet  been  able  to  obtain  any  reliable  information  of 
the  corps  of  General  Stark,  whether  it  has  gone  back  to  West  Point, 
or  whether  part  of  it  is  .still  at  Pishkill.  But  tiiis  much  is  certain, 
that  no  portion  of  this  corps  is  now  in  our  vicinity.  According  to 
intelligence  received  here  day  before  yesterday  from  Horse-neck, 
there  are  not  more  than  one  hundred  and  fitly  militia  at  tliat  place, 


mflBR 


234 


OFFICIAL  IJOVVMENTS  UELATINa 


who  lire  couimnndert  by  a  certain  Colonel  Wels,  a  sliocninker. 
Colonel  Shelton,  however,  has  no  definite  place  for  his  liead  qnarterH. 
At  times  he  is  with  a  detaelnnent,  and  ajiain  all  of  liis  men  are  at 
Points  Bridge,  Nortli  Castle,  Helford,  Kiiigstreet,  and  Ilorse-neek, 
which  forms,  as  it  were,  the  junction  of  the  North  and  East  rivers. 
Occasionally,  also,  his  patrols  comt;  as  far  as  East  Chester.  I  shall 
consider  it  a  pleasure  to  communicate  to  your  honor  every  item  of 
news  wliieh  readies  me,  that  I  may  at  the  same  time,  manifest  the 
higli  esteem,  etc. 

L008HKIUI. 


BXTUACT  FKOM  A  LETTER  WUITTEN  BY  CJENEUAL  RIEDESEI,  TO 
GENERAL  PJIILLII'S  UPON  THE  MANNER  IN  WHICH  ENGLAND 
SHOULD  CARRY  ON  TUK  WAR  AGAINST  UEK  COLONIES. 

BnooKLYN,  Mnreh  20, 1781. 

'^  *  *  I  believe,  also,  tliat  four  battalions  could  be 

obtained  from  Mechlenberg-Sehwerin  and  one;  from  Strelitz  with 
wincli  to  reenforce  tlie  troops  in  America;  and  the  war  might  tlien 
be  continued  liere  in  tlie  way  which  I  proposed  to  you  in  my  memoir 
rom  Cambridge.  Tliat  is,  to  estal)li8h  three  or  four  posts  in  sucli  a 
manner  tliat  the  Americans  —  who  from  lacli  of  knowledge  and  the 
necessary  material  cannot  undertake  a  regular  siege  —  will  be  power- 
less to  capture  them.  They  must,  moreover,  be  (constantly  annoyed 
by  successive  expeditions,  and  not  be  permitted  to  establish  fastnesses 
in  (lie  interior  of  the  country.  Such  a  warfare  would  force  the  rebels 
to  have  armies  all  over ;  their  expenses  would  be  increased ;  their 
resources  w(nild  come  to  an  end ;  discontent  would  increase  in  pro- 
portion to  want ;  and,  seeing  that  they  were  the  dupes  of  the  Euro- 
pean pow(!rs,  their  eyes  would  open,  and  tliey  would  rather  rest 
satisfied  with  an  unfavorable  result  than  be  the  foot-ball  of  ambitious 
powers  who  are  only  looking  after  their  own  interests. 

But  to  make  this  plan  successful,  new  arrangements  would  have 
to  be  instituted  in  Canada.  The  different  posts  on  the  lakes,  Niagara, 
etc.,  would  have  to  be  reenforced  by  at  least  two  tliousand  men,  and 
detachments  of  from  five  to  six  hundred  men,  under  thoroughly 
competent  leaders,  would  have  to  be  stationed  on  the  Ohio.  Indians 
also,  would  have  to  be  added  to  these  detachments,  to  whom  sliould 
be  given  a  carte  blanche,  witliout  restrictions,  to  do  whatever  they 
pleased  in  the  rear  of  the  colonies,  tlirougliout  Virginia  and  Pemisyl- 
vania.     This  plan,  altliough  it  may  seem  cruel,  will  nevertheless 


I^ 


TO  OEN.  ItlKnmKVS  <'A.WI'A10N. 


286 


liave  to  be  carried  out  in  tlie  present  situation.  Panic  would  tlius  i)e 
increased  among  tlie  rebels;  tliey  woidd  l(!ave  tliose  regions,  and 
tlicir  beautiful  settlements  would  be  destroyed.  Tlieir  army  would 
soon  be  in  want  of  subsistence,  and  with  their  front  harrassed  by  our 
troops  from  the  sea  side,  and  their  rear  exposed  to  the  incursions  of 
the  savages,  no  oilier  course  would  be  left  to  tliem  than  to  submit  to 
the  victors.  I  sincerely  trust  the  Indians  will  not  be  obliged  to  fight, 
for  whenever  the  rebels  shall  oppose  them  with  any  force  they  will 
all  run  away,  and  fall  buck  on  the  regulars  behind  them.  These 
wild  men  love  this  kind  of  warfare,  for  so  long  as  their  natural  coarse 
tastes  are  satisfied  they  care  little  for  anything  else.  They  will 
soon  enrich  themselves  with  booty,  and  rcigai'i  the  respect  which 
they  enjoyed  during  the  rule  of  the  French.  I  well  know  that  a 
warfare  of  this  kind  seems  cruel,  but  it  is  to  be  e.vcused  by  the  fact 
that  order  and  the  public  weal  will  thereby  be  establislied.  It  will 
also  be  necessary  to  rally  all  the  Indians  from  the  interior  of  Canada, 
and  undertake  a  grand  expedition  in  the  direction  of  Ticoiideroga 
during  harvesting.  A  portion  of  the  expedition  must  be  pushed 
down  as  far  as  the  German  Flats  to  destroy  the  crops,  grain,  provi- 
sions, cattle  and  the  mills;  for  it  is  notorious  that  Washington's  army 
draws  a  large  part  of  its  subsistence  from  this  section.  These  detach- 
ments must  always  be  recalled  into  Canada  in  the  winter. 

Let  the  militia  take  care  of  Great  Britain;  let  your  fleets  act 
prudently ;  maintain  a  defensive  and  judicious  warfare  in  America 
for  a  few  successive  years,  and  by  j'II  means  avoid  a  defeat,  and  you 
shall  see  that  the  rebels  will  soon  give  up  such  a  burdensome  war, 
and  come  to  an  advantageous  peace.  You,  it  is  true,  shall  gain 
nothing  but  lasting  glory,  dearly  bought  by  the  backwardness,  inde- 
cision and  want  of  harmony  of  your  ministers,  and  by  the  bad  man- 
agement of  the  troops  which  were  intrusted  to  generals  who  were 
not  fitted  for  such  an  exalted  position,  either  by  their  merits  or 
experience,  but  obtained  it  solely  by  ir.rtuence  at  home. 

Should  America  see  that  firmness  on  the  part  of  England  —  for 
which  she  was  formerly  characterized  —  she,  of  all  the  powers  now 
engaged  in  war,  would  soonest  make  peace ;  or,  in  case  her  stubborn- 
ness has  taken  too  deep  root,  she  would  herself  fall,  after  all  the  others 
had  settled  their  quarrels. 

You  will  have  perceived  by  my  sentiments  that  I  disapprove  of  all 
the  lengthy  and  extensive  movements  of  Lord  ('ornwallis.  Our  army 
is  too  weak  to  hold  so  large  a  tract  of  land ;  and  we  are  thus  forced 
to  scatter  ourselves  too  widely  whenever  we  go  into  the  interior  of 
t!ie  country.  The  conseciuence  is,  tliat  we  hazard  and  receive  defeats, 
without  obtaining  a  recompense  for  our  losses.  The  moment  the 
30* 


w 


236 


OFFICIAL  DOVVMENTS  RELA  TINO 


enemy  attempts  nnything  in  one  direction,  we  slioiild  full  buck  and 
strike  another  coup  in  another  quarter. 

The  post  at  Portsmouth  is  well  selected,  and  is  necessary;  hut  it 
sliould  be  placed  in  a  condition  strong  enough  to  withstand  an  attack 
without  needing  support  from  the  water,  while,  at  the  same  time,  our 
fleet  should  also  be  of  sufticient  strength  to  frustrate  all  attemi)ts 
upon  our  posts  from  the  sea.  I  should  like  to  propose  the  placing 
of  another  post  at  Falmouth,  which  has  a  splendid  harbor,  and  lies 
between  Boston  and  Penobscot.  From  this  place  you  could  tit  out 
expeditions  against  the  provinces  of  Hampshire  and  Massachu- 
setts ;  and  we  could  then,  also,  endeavor  to  retake  Uhode  island 
as  soon  as  reenforcements  arrived  from  Europe.  Nor  will  this  be 
impossible  when  the  French  fleet  shall  have  sailed  thence,  and  our  own 
fleet  becomes  stronger. 

You  may  laugli  at  my  views,  but  you  yourself  desired  that  I  should 
communicate  them  to  you ;  and  I  have  now  fultillcd  the  wishes  of 
a  friend,  who,  I  am  convinced,  will  not  make  an  improper  use  of 
them. 

I  am,  etc, 

RlEDESKI,. 


CORRKSPONDENCE  OF  GENERAL  RIEDESEL  WITH  WASHINGTON  AND 

GATES. 

General  Riedesel  to  Oenerul  Washimjton. 


Sir: 


Cambuidge,  Jan.  11, 1778. 


Major  General  Gates,  having,  at  the  request  of  his  e.tcellency. 
Lieutenant  General  Burgoyne,  exchanged  a  certain  number  of  pri- 
soners of  war  for  an  equal  number  of  the  Continental  army,  and 
being  farther  required  to  exchange  a  proportionable  number  of  Ger- 
man otflcers,  who  were  made  prisoners  of  war,  said,  "he  could  not 
enter  upon  any  exchange  of  the  German  troops,  without  an  express 
order  from  congress." 

I  have  too  high  an  opinion  of  your  excellency's  justice,  to  believe 
you  would  make  any  distinction  between  the  troops  of  dittcrent 
nations  engaged  in  the  same  cause,  and  I  am  persuaded  you  will 
grant  the  same  indulgence  to  the  prisoners  of  war  of  one  party, 
which  you  do  to  the  other,  in  every  respect ;  but,  particularly,  in  tliat 
of  a  fair  and  equal  exchange.  I  therefore  request  that  you  will  allow 
a  number  of  the  German  officers  of  General  Burgoyne's  army,  pri- 


TO  a  EX.  RIEDESEVS  VAMPAtO/f. 


287 


Boner>of  Wftr,  to  be  exchanged  in  proportion  to  tlie  number  of  Hritish 
offlcf.rs  exchnngetl  by  General  Gates;  and  as  the  olllcers  of  General 
Burgoyne's  family,  and  those  of  General  Phillips  have  been  exchanged, 
though  included  in  the  convention,  I  request  that  the  same  indulgence 
may  be  granted  to  my  suite.  A  return  of  their  names,  and  of  the 
offlcers  made  prisoners  of  war  during  the  campaign  is  inclosed 
herewitli. 

I  have  the  honor,  etc., 

lltKUE8EL,  Major  General. 


Oeneml  Wnshinfjtoti  to  Oemrtd  likdenel. 

Hkad  Quakteks,  Vallky  Foudu,  .)fa>rJi  31,  1778. 
Sir: 

It  is  sometime  since  I  was  honored  with  yours  of  the  11th  of  Janu- 
ary, to  which  I  should  have  replied  sooner,  had  I  not  been  obliged  to 
wait  for  an  answer  from  General  Gates  upon  the  subject  of  your 
letter.  He  says  you  never  applied  directly  to  him  for  the  exchange 
ofyourself  or  any  German  offlcers,  either  of  your  family  or  the  corps; 
but  that  he  was  told  in  Albany,  that  you  and  Major  General  Phillips 
had  separately  applied  to  Sir  William  Howe  to  be  exchanged  for 
General  Lee,  and  had  been  answered,  that  as  General  Prescott  had 
been  first  taken,  he  must  be  first  exchanged.  I  imagine,  from  the 
foregoing,  that  General  Gates  must  have  misunderstood  you,  as  he 
says  he  should  have  had  no  objection  to  excliange  the  foreign  as  well 
as  the  British  officers. 

Commissioners  from  me  are  now  negotiating  a  general  exchange 

of  prisoners  with  commissioners  from  Sir  William  Howe.    If  they 

agree  upon  terms,  I  shall  not  have  the  least  objection  to  exchiinge  a 

proportion  of  foreign  as  well  as  British  officers.    But  you  will  please 

to  observe  that  this  is  a  matter  which  depends  solely  upon  Sir  William 

Howe's  pleasure ;  as  he  has  a  right  to  demand  such  olHcers  as  he 

thinks  proper,  for  an  equal  luunber  of  equal  rank.    I  should  suppose, 

however,  that  justice  to  his  allies  would  point  out  the  equity  of  an 

impartial  exchange. 

I  am,  etc., 

Geo.  WAsniNGTON. 


238 


OFFICIAL  DOCVUESTS  JIKIA  TINO 


Qeverul  JtialiMcl  to  Mnjor  (itninil  GuifM. 


Hir; 


C'AMiiijiudK,  Noi\  21,  1778. 


llavin^;  Haltered  myself  from  duy  to  day  tlmt  I  should  lmv((  the 
pleiisuie  of  seeiiip;  you  at  Candiridjie,  I  liave  ileferred  writlnjf  you 
to  felicitate  you  on  your  safe  arrival  at  Moston  ;  and  I  sliould  not 
luive  failed  of  seizing;  llie  first  opportunity  of  walliny  upon  you,  had 
I  not  heen  prevented  l)y  an  order,  wiiieh  has  l)een  in  force  ever  sinco 
we  have  l)ecn  liere,  tliat  no  otHccr  of  the  convention  Hhouldhu  allowed 
tu  go  into  lioHton. 

Ah  tlic  alfairs  in  relation  to  money,  widcli  have  detained  mc  here, 
are  now  settled,  and  as  I  intend  to  set  out  in  a  few  days,  I  rc(iuc8t 
tlie  favor  of  heing  allowed  with  Madame  Hiedesel,  to  go  to  Boston 
to  take  leave  of  you  and  Mrs.  tlales,  and  to  return  you  numy  tluinks 
for  tli(!  civilities  you  liave  .slu)wn  mc  ever  since  I  had  tlic  pleasure  of 
nn\king  your  «c(|uainlance. 

I  must  once  more  have  recourse  to  your  goodness,  by  rctiucsting 
your  assistance  in  making  the  long  journey  we  are  to  undertake  as 
easy  to  ^fadame  Hiedesel,  myself  and  family,  as  possihle.  ' 

I  take  tlie  lilierty  of  reiiuesting  an  otlleer  to  conduct  Madame 
Hiedesel  upon  tin;  road,  and  a  guard  to  escort  mv'  baggage,  and  tliat 
of  the  persons  belonging  to  tlie  general  staff  of  those  Ihunswick 
troops  wlio  are  still  here,  and  are  to  accompany /ne.  I  beg  of  you 
to  give  a  written  reciuisition  to  tlie  olllcer,  in  order  tliat  we  may  be 
supi)lied  w  iih  good  (piarters  on  the  road,  and  may  receive  provisions 
at  (lie  places  wliere  they  were  issued  to  the  troops  upon  tlioir  march. 

Vou  will  know  bow  far  this  olliccr  and  escort  can  accompany  us; 
and  I  beg  of  yon  lo  write  to  the  ne.\t  governor  or  commander,  where 
this  olliccr  will  be  relieved,  reiiuesling  liim  to  grant  mc  another,  as 
well  as  carts ;  and  that  1  may  meet  w  itli  the  same  accommodations,  as 
those  which  you  arc  so  good  as  to  allow  mc. 

Yon  will  judge  whetlier  I  shall  longer  require  a  passport,  signed 
witli  your  name. 

Wlien  I  left  Albanj',  you  were  so  obliging  as  to  give  us  a  Colonel 
Sprout,  who  accompanied  Madame  Hiedesel  a  little  waj',  and  showed 
her  everj^  possililc  attention ;  and  I  should  consider  myself  under 
double  obligations  to  you,  sir,  if  you  would  send  an  olllcer  with 
Madame  Riedcsel,  whose  behavior  and  sentiments  shall  correspond 
with  those  of  Colonel  Sprout. 

>[ajor  Hopkins,  deputy  (piarter  master  general,  acquainted  me 
before  his  departure,  tliat  Scpiirc  Watson  of  Cambridge,  had  orders 
to  furnish  me  with  carts,  and  that  the  number  was  fl.xed  by  Major 


TO  OKU.  lilKDHSh'L'S  VAJUJ'AIGN. 


289 


(Ifiu'ral  Ilciitli  bt't'ori'  your  iirriviil.     I  will,  ilaTcroiv,  not  troiihU)  you 
on  tlilA  point. 

Ah  all  niy  InmincHs  is  Hcltlcd,  I  intend,  if  you  Imvi'  no  olijiicliou, 
to  Hft  out  hence  on  Friday  next,  the  2(Jth  innt.,  and  arrive  the  huiuo 
day  at  VVorecHter.  I  purpose;  Hendin^?  away  my  haKK^KL"  <>"  Wednes- 
day, which  can  easily  reach  VVorcester  in  three  ilays.  Friun  Wor- 
cester I  shall  continue  my  journey,  retaining  tht-  l)ag)!;"K<'  eonstantly 
by  m((.  I  should  be  particularly  obliged,  if  you  would  allow  the 
officer  wiio  conducts  Madame  Kiedesel,  and  the  guard  lor  tlio 
baggage,  to  be  here  by  Tuesday  evening  or  Wednesday  morning. 

Madame  Uiedesel  desires  to  join  with  me  In  compliments  to  Mrs. 
Gates  and  yourseH 

I  have  the  honor,  etc., 

UiKUESKL,  Mi\]or  General. 


Geiiinil  Uiedesel  to  Af<{jirr  Oeneral  Oaten. 

Essex  Couwt  IIouhe,  January  2, 1771). 
Sir: 

After  innumerable  difficulties  and  fatigues,  I  urrivd  here  yesterday 
witli  Madame  Kiedesel  and  our  little  family  in  goml  health.  Colonel 
Troup  leaves  me  here,  and  proceeds  to  ]\Iorristown.  General  Lord 
Stirling,  who  commands  at  Middle-Broolt,  in  the  absence  of  his  excel- 
lency, General  Washington,  has  been  so  obliging  as  to  semi  me  a 
Captain  Browne,  who  is  to  accompany  me  to  Virginia. 

Allow  me,  sir,  to  return  you  once  more  my  most  sincere  thanks 
for  your  kindness,  in  sending  Colonel  Troup  with  me.  I  cannot 
sufficiently  speak  of  the  politeness  and  attention  he  has  shown 
Madame  Uiedesel  and  myself  on  the  journey,  and  the  trouble  he  gave 
himself  to  alleviate  the  difHculties,  which  naturallj'  and  unavoii'ably 
occur  upon  such  a  long  journey. 

Madame  Riedesei  begs  leave  to  join  me  in  offering  her  best  eon\- 
pliments  to  Mrs.  Gates,  and  in  wisliing  her  and  you  all  possible  health 
and  happiness. 

I  have  etc., 

KuiDESEL,  Major  General, 


Sir: 


Oeneral  Riedcnel  to  Oeneral  Washington. 

CoLLK,  near  Charlottesville,  February  10, 1779. 


The  great  obligations  which  I  am  under  to  Captain  Browne,  who 
will  have  the  honor  of  delivering  this  letter  to  your  excellency,  is  the 


240 


OFPWIAL  DOCUMENTS  ItKLA  TINO 


(KTiision  oC  my  taking  tlic  libcrly  to  rwoimiiciul  him  U>  your  nxccl- 
Iciioy.  Tills  ofllcor  was  appointed  l)y  Lord  Htirlinjj;  to  accompany 
myself  and  family  to  the  place  of  our  destination  in  Virginia.  Tlic 
great,  care  lie  took  in  i>rocnring  us  the  best  acconmiodatious  and 
conveniences  upon  tlu^  road,  and  his  attention  and  endcuivors  to 
render  the  long  journey  as  litll('  Iryinr,  as  p()ssil)le  to  Madame  Uiod- 
esel  and  to  m(',  (;all  for  my  highest  acknowledgments;  and  although 
the  recommendation  of  an  o(lie<'r,  l)y  one  who  is  engaged  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  great  cause  in  dispute,  ought  to  havi;  no  weight, 
yet  the  well  known  scntimeniK  of  generosity  and  hunumity,  which 
your  excellency  has  testilled  on  so  many  occasions,  enco\irage  mo  to 
recommend  ('a))tain  Hrowne  to  your  .  xcellency's  notice  and  pro- 
tection. 

Captain  Browne  can  actpiaint  your  excellency  with  the  variouH 
dillhuhies  \\{\  encountered,  the  scarcity  of  everything  upon  the  road, 
the  ciiormous  price  of  every  article,  and  the  ungenerous  and  inlunnan 
seutinuMils  of  people  at  ditfercnt  places. 

Captain  Browne  can  likewise  inform  your  excellency  of  the  present 
mc^laneholy  situation  of  the  convention  troops;  which,  howev(^r,  was 
much  worse  ui>on  their  first  arrival  at  this  phKie.  When  tlu^y  first 
Hiached  here,  they  foMud  a  few  hiiildiugs,  barracks  in  u<ime,h\\\.,  in  fact, 
nothing  hut  some  logs  laid  one  \\\Hm  another,  without  any  covering, 
and  the  snow  three  feet  dec])  on  thegromul.  The  troops  have  nobly 
borne  their  distress,  jind  are  now  cmiiloycd  in  Iiuildiug  their  own 
barracks,  which  wouli'  have  been  linished  long  since  had  there  not 
been  such  a  scarcity  of  tools.  I  must  confess  that,  according  to  the 
description  which  we  had  given  us  before  our  departure  from  Cam- 
bridge, I  expecle<l  to  have  found  aniore  plentiful  countrj-,  and  one 
better  able  to  maintain  such  a  number  of  troops.  Hut  I  am  far  from 
wishing  to  trouble  yom'  excellency  with  complaints,  as  I  am  fully 
sensible  that  wc  are  not  in  this  situation  by  vour  ex(U'llency's  orders. 

Your  cxcelkMuy  w ill  allow  me  to  assure  you  (.f  the  respectful  sen- 
timents with  which  I  have  the  honor  of  being  your  excellency's 
most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant. 

RiKi)E8EL,  Major  General. 


Sir: 


General  Riedesfl  to  General  Waxhinyton. 

BKTni.KiiKM,  FN  Pennsyia'ANIA,  Oct.  13, 1770. 


Your  excellency,  I  hope,  will  have  the  goodness  to  excuse  my 
troubling  you  witli  this  letter.  I  do  it  from  njotivesof  justice  to  Mr. 
Randolph.,  the  gentleman  who  will  liavc  the  honor  of  delivering  it  to 


TO  (lES.  Hlb:i)KHKi:n  VAMI'AHIS. 


241 


you.  1  beg  lo  rcconinn'iiil  liini  to  the  knowknlgc!  of  your  oxri'llency, 
n.s  llu'  pi'iBoii  to  whom  (-'oloiicl  lJliiii(l,(li<'coniniiiii(liiiil, iiK'ImrlottoH- 
villc,  j^iivc  Ui(!commiHMion  ol"  ('ondiicl'mfr  tlic  odici^rs  luid  l)ii>j:f;iige  of 
my  family  to  Kli/,ivl)L'tlilo\vn,  I  liivving,  !ih  yon,  wir,  iiiuHt  liiivc  been 
iippiiscd,  tukon  the  route  lu-fore,  iu  coinimny  with  Major  GciutmI 
PliiliipH. 

Tlie  great  civrewhidi  Mr.  Itaiulolphhiwtiiken  to  render  tlie  Jonrney 
as  pleiisant  as  poHsil)le  to  Die  ollioerH  of  my  suite,  the  politenesH  he  liaH 
Bliown  to  tliem,  and  the  exactneHS  with  whieh  Iu;  haH  exeented  liiH 
orders,  eall  for  my  henl  acknowledjinuMitH,  and  liavo  indueed  me  to 
mention  lliis  genllennin  to  your  excelleney. 

I  will  not  enter  upon  the  siibjeet  of  my  detention,  aH  Major  General 
PhillipHlias  written  to  yomexeelleney,  and  niimt  have  fully  explained, 
with  his  own,  my  sentiments  ;;j>or.  that  ad'iiir ;  but  tlu^  ijleiisinj:;  pro- 
spect I  had  of  going  to  New  York  was  heightened,  from  it  becoming  in 
a  manner  ne(;essary  to  my  health  (which  has  lately  been  declining 
imder  a  slow  fever),  which  change  of  clinuite  alone;  will  cure.  My 
disappointment  is  in  jiroporticm  to  the  flattering  prospect  1  liad  of 
visiting  my  friends.  Your  excelleney  may  therefore  judge  how  severely 
I  must  feel  upon  returning,  iu  my  presciut  stale  of  health,  to  Vir;jinia, 
where  I  am  certain  my  health  must  sutler  from  the  climate. 

1  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  the  greatest  personal  respect,  etc., 

KiKDKHKL,  Major  General. 


Bir: 


General  Wanhinr/tonto  General  Riedesd 

IIicAT)  QuAUTKHs,  We8T  Point,  Oct.  23,  t77{>. 


I  liave  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  letter  of  the  12th  by  Mr.  Ran- 
dolph. 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  learn  that  this  young  gentleman's  attentions, 
dtiring  your  journey,  has  been  such  as  to  deserve  your  approbati(m. 

I  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  my  letter  to  Major  General  Phillips  for 
my  answer  to  his  request  in  your  favor.  I  symi>athi/.e  with  your 
poor  state  of  health,  and  very  sincerely  wish  an  alteration  for  the 
better,  which  I  hope  will  result  from  your  change  of  situation. 

I  am,  etc., 

Gico.  Wasiiinoton. 


I    -m 


242 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS  JtELATlNO 


Gemral  liiedesel  to  Oeiwrol  WashiiixiUm. 


Sir: 


Bkthlkiikm,  Oct.  20, 1779. 


ft 


Yesterday  evening  I  was  honored  witli  your  excellency's  letter  of 
the  33d  of  October,  in  answer  to  niine  sent  by  Mr.  Randolph ;  and 
Major  General  Phillips  lias  communicated  to  me  that  part  of 
your  letter  to  liim  whicii  concerns  mc.  I  return  your  excellency  my 
warmest  thanks  for  the  interest  you  take  in  my  indisposition,  and 
am  persuaded  that  whenever  my  disagreeable  situation  can  be 
changed,  everything  will  be  done  by  you  to  forward  it. 

Your  excellency  mentions,  in  Major  General  Phillips's  letter,  that 
I  might  represent  the  ill  state  of  my  healtli  to  the  American  congress ; 
but  when  1  consider  that  the  solo  motive  which  determined  mc  to 
midertake  the  very  long  journey  from  Charlottesville  to  Ellza- 
bethlown,  was  a  letter  from  your  excellency  to  Colonel  Bland  — 
the  contents  of  which  he  conmiunicated  to  me  —  I  place  my  whole 
confidence  and  dependence  entirely  upon  your  excellency,  under 
whose  immediate  directions  I  conceive  mjself  to  be.  These  reasons, 
also,  were  my  inducements  to  take  the  liberty  of  giving  you  a  faithful 
description  of  the  total  change  in  my  health ;  and  I  am  convinced 
that  whenever  your  excellency  may  think  proper  to  make  a  repre- 
sentation of  these  facts  to  the  American  congress,  setting  forth  the 
circumstances  which  I  have  mentioned,  it  would  have  much  greater 
weight,  and,  indeed,  could  not  fail  of  success,  than  any  address  from  an 
individual  to  the  American  congress,  a  body  to  whom  I  am  unknown. 

It  is  through  your  excellency's  kind  intentions  that  I  am  in  this 
place,  and  as  the  very  impaired  state  of  my  health  is  now  known  to 
to  you,  I  cannot,  sir,  doubt  your  generous  sentiments  in  procuring 
me  permission  to  go  into  New  York,  at  least  for  so  long  a  time  as 
may  be  necessary  to  reestablish  my  health ;  for  which  I  shall  always 
consider  myself  under  great  obligations  to  your  excellency. 

I  have,  etc., 

RiEDESEii,  Major  General. 


Qeneral  Siedescl  to  General  Wdshington.  • 

Brooklyn,  April,  1781. 
Sir: 

Several  German  officers  of  the  Saratoga  convention,  having  applied 

to  me  to  be  exchanged  on  account  of  their  particular  private  affairs, 

I  made  a  requisition,  accordingly,  upon  Major  General  Phillips  to 

propose  such  a  thing  to  your  excellency.    In  answer  to  my  rcciuest , 


TO  OEN.  IlIEDESb'Va  VAil/'AIOIf. 


24:$ 


"!,v 


Qcucral  Phillips  comnuinicatcd  to  me  your  letlef  of  the  2r)th  of 
January,  to  liis  excellency,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  in  which  the  proposed 
change  made  by  Major  General  Phillips  to  you,  "sir,  on  the  2;Jd  of 
Dec(^niber  last,  is  agreed  to,  and,  consequently,  involves  in  it  those 
German  oiHcers  who  were  included  in  proposition,  though  not  nomi- 
nated at  that  time. 

In  consequence  of  your  excellency's  acquiescence  in  this  measure, 
I  delivered  to  Major  General  Phillii)s  a  list  of  those  oiBcers  for  whom 
I  begged  the  exchange,  which,  he  assures  me,  has  been  forwarded 
in  his  last  proposals  made  between  the  British  and  American  com- 
missary generals  of  i)risoner8  on  the  ad  of  March. 

As  all  the  British  officers,  for  whom  Major  General  Phillips  a?ked 
an  exchange,  have  already  arrived  without  one  German  ofHcer  being 
included  in  their  numl)er,  I  presume  the  before  mentioned  list  has 
not  reached  your  excellency;  for  I  am  convinced  that  you,  sir, 
would  be  guided  by  the  same  impartiality  toward  one  nation  as 
another.  I  therefore  take  the  liberty  of  repeating  Major  General 
Phillips's  request,  that  you  would  have  the  goodness  to  exchange  the 
German  olllcers  nientioned  in  said  list  (a  copy  of  which  I  herewith 
inclose),  and  to  give  your  orders  for  those  gcuitlemen  to  be  sent  to 
New  York. 

Major  Meiborn,  of  my  dragoon  regiment,  and  Ensign  Meiborn,  of 
my  infantry  regiment,  belonging  to  the  troops  of  his  serene  highness, 
the  duke  of  Brunswick,  having  been  made  prisoners  of  war  a  few 
days  since  on  Long  island,  I  shall  attribute  it  all  to  your  excellency's 
kindness,  if  these  two  officers  are  permitted  to  come  to  New  York 
on  parole.  The  infirm  state  of  Major  Meiborn's  health  claims  parti- 
cular attention,  and  I  sliall  make  use  of  every  interest  in  my  power, 
with  his  excellency  general,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  to  procure  the  i)er- 
mission  for  their  exchange,  if  your  excellency  will  please  give  your 
approbation. 

I  am,  etc., 

ItiKDKSKi.,  Major  General. 


"I 


Sir: 


General  Washington  to  Gcnrral  Ilk<Ji'Ml. 

Head  Quarters,  New  Windsor,  May  11,  1781. 


I  have  been  honored  with  your  favor  of  April,  with  no  particular 
date.  Either  you  must  have  been  misinformed  as  to  the  letters, 
which  passed  from  General  Phillips  to  me,  of  the  2<id  December,  and 
from  me  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  on  the  25th  of  January,  in  answer,  or 
you  must  have  misunderstood  them.  You  will  observe  that  I  acceded 
31* 


244 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS  RELATING 


only  to  the  exchange  of  the  Britisli  officers,  particularly  named  in 
General  Phillips's  letter.  I  refused  his  proposal  of  permitting  an  inde- 
tenninate  number' of  British  or  German  ofHccrs  to  be  sent  to  New 
York  at  the  discretion  of  Brigadier  General  Hamilton. 

Some  time  after,  proposals  for  a  further  exchange,  bearing  date  the 
3d  of  March,  and  in  which  are  included  the  German  officers,  whose 
names  you  mention,  were  communicated  to  me  by  commissary 
general  of  prisoners,  to  which  1  did  not  think  proper  to  accede,  as  I 
conceived  (he  exchange  of  Lieutenant  General  Burgoyne  was  unrea- 
sonably delayed.  My  answer  and  instructions  upon  this  head  have 
been  communicated  in  full  to  Mr.  Loring  by  Mr.  Skinner. 

Were  I  inclined  to  partiality  in  fivvor  of  the  British  officers,  I  have 
no  power  to  exercise  it,  as  the  choice  of  the  objects  of  exchange  does 
not  lie  with  me. 

At  your  particular  request,  I  have  given  orders  to  have  Major  and 
Ensign  Meiborn  sent  into  New  York  upon  parole. 

I  um,  etc., 

Geo.  Washington. 


General  Biedescl  to  Oenernl  Washington. 


Sir: 


SoREL,  June  21, 1783. 


I  beg  leave,  herewith,  to  Introduce  Lieutenant  Danier,  of  the 
Brunswick  troops,  and  to  request  your  excellency  will  permit  him  to 
have  passports  to  go  to  New  York  by  land  and  return  by  the  same 
route,  on  business  which  concerns  only  the  interior  and  particular 
economy  of  the  troops  I  have  the  honor  to  command.  The  pacific 
situation  of  affairs  emboldens  me  to  prefer  this  request,  and  I  suspend 
farther  apology  that  I  may  seize  the  occasion,  before  leaving  this  con- 
tinent, of  congratulating  your  excellency  on  the  blessed  return  of 
peace,  and  of  wishing  perfect  union  and  prosperity  to  the  two  coun- 
tries, and  to  you,  sir,  every  personal  happiness  and  domestic  happiness 
it  can  produce. 

I  have,  etc., 

RiEDESEL,  Major  General. 


Sir: 


General  Washington  to  General  liiedesel. 

Head  Quauteus,  Jiilg  14,  1788. 


I  had  the  satisfaction  of  receiving  your  polite  letter  of  the  31st  June 
by  Lieutenant  Danier,  and  the  particular  pleasure  of  complying  with 


TO  GEN.  lUEDESEVS  CAMPAIGN. 


245 


your  request,  by  granting  the  passports  you  mentioned  for  that 
gentleman  to  proceed  to  New  York  and  return  again  to  Canada. 

Had  this  request  needed  any  apology,  which  I  beg  you  to  believe 
it  did  not,  your  very  agreeable  congratulations  on  the  happy  return  of 
peace,  with  the  benevolent  wishes  which  you  are  pleased  to  express 
for  the  future  friendly  union  and  intercourse  of  the  two  countries,  and 
for  my  own  personal  happiness  and  domestic  enjoyment,  would  have 
formed  a  most  pleasing  one.  I  pray  you,  sir,  to  believe  that  my  best 
and  most  devout  wishes  for  your  safe  return  to  your  own  country, 
attend  you,  as  well  as  for  your  future  happiness,  prosperity  and  glory. 

The  Baron  Steuben  will  do  me  the  favor  to  place  this  in  your  hand. 
This  gentleman  is  instructed  by  me  to  form  some  arrangements  with 
General  Haldimand,  respecting  the  execution  of  the  seventh  article  of 
the  provisional  treaty,  and  receiving  possession  of  the  posts,  now 
under  his  direction,  and  in  the  occupation  of  the  British  troops,  which 
are  ceded  by  treaty  to  the  United  States. 

As  an  officer  of  distinction  and  reputation,  as  a  foreigner,  and  as  a 
gentleman  of  agreeable  and  polished  manners,  I  beg  leave  to  recom- 
mend the  baron  to  your  particular  attention  and  civilities,  believing 
that  your  goodness  will  extend  to  him  every  aid  in  the  prosecution 
of  his  tour,  and  the  execution  of  his  commission,  that  shall  lie  within 
your  power. 

I  am,  etc., 

Gko.  Wasiiinoton. 


SOMETHING  IN  RELATION  TO  WASHINGTON'S  ATTACK  ON  THE 
HESSIAN  VAGEUS,  UNDER  LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  VON  WURMB,  AT 
FORT  INDEPENDENCE,  JULY  3,  1781. 

A  Letter  of  Oeneral  Itiedesel  to  tlw  Ilesmm  Major  EwakV 

Brooklyn,  J^ily  4, 1781. 

Your  honor's  letter  of  June  8th  besides  the  news  it  gives  me  re- 
specting the  operations  of  the  army,  causes  me  to  rejoice  greatly,  since 
it  tells  me  of  your  improved  health  and  the  healing  of  your  wound. 

The  French  troops,  in  connection  with  Washington,  show  symptoms 
of  attacking  New  York.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Von  Wurmb  went  day 
before  yesterday  on  a  reconnoitering  expedition.  In  the  course  of  it, 
he  was  attacked,  and  the  brave  Captain  Von    Ilau   dangerously 


'  Major  Ewftld  was  one  of  the  host  Hessian  officers.  He  subgcqnently  entered  the 
Danli^h  Hcrvice,  and  became  comniandor  In  chief  of  the  Danish  army.  He  is  also 
known  as  a  military  anthor. 


6»| 


p'f 


246 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS  liELATlNO 


wounded  in  the  breast.  Yesterday  the  lieutenant  colonel  was  again 
attacked,  but  he  firmly  resisted  the  onset  of  the  enemy.  I  do  not,  as 
yet,  know  the  extent  of  his  losses. 

If  it  be  possible  for  your  honor  to  ascertain  where  our  German 
troops  of  the  Saratoga  convention  are  at  present,  you  will  greatly 

oblige  me  by  informing  of  it. 

With  constant  esteem,  etc., 

RlEDEBEL. 


ui£XM  •'» 


Letter  of  tlte  Ileaimn  General  Von  Tjoseberg  to  Oeneral  Von  liiedcsel. 

I  had  the  honor  yesterday  to  receive  your  honor's  letter,  for  which, 
as  also  the  congratulations  you  therein  express  on  my  promotion,  I 
sincerely  thank  you. 

A  corps  of  General  Washington,  of  about  4,000  men,  and,  according 
to  some  reports,  still  stronger,  yesterday  approached  the  lines  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Von  Wurmb,  with  the  corps  of  yagers,  and 
attacked  the  pickets  between  Cortlandt's  louse  and  Fort  Inde- 
pendence. The  rebeis,  although  reen forced,  retreated  into  the  woods, 
and  the  j'iigers  occupied  an  advantageous  position  that  had  been 
intrusted  to  the  former.  They  lost  three  in  killed.  One  officer  and 
twenty-five  of  their  privates  were  also  wounded. 

According  to  intelligence  just  received.  General  Washington 
marched  this  morning  with  his  army  (which  is  stjited  to  number  at 
present  between  seven  and  eight  thousand  men),  to  White  Plains. 
Several  of  the  farmers  say  that  the  principal  portion  of  tliis  corps  was 
composed  of  Prenclmien.    It  seems  most  likely  to  be  the  legion  alone. 

I  have,  etc., 

LOOSUEKO. 


Mijoi'  Eimld  to  General  Biedesel.     The  engagement  at  Jamestown. 

Suffolk,  July  20, 1781. 
Dear  JFajor  General : 

I  yesterday  received  your  kiiul  letters  of  June  2<Jd  and  July  5lh, 
and  thank  you  for  yoin*  remembrance. 

Notwithstanding  every  one  (?xpectcd  that  my  Lord  Cornwallis 
would  wait  in  Williamsburg  until  the  great  heat  had  passed,  the 
army  left  its  camp  on  'he  4th  of  July,  crossed  the  James  river  near 
Jamestown,  and  marched  on  Suffolk  where  the  army  now  is.  Mon- 
sieur Le  Marquise  received  on  the  Cth  the  false  news,  that  my  Lord 
Cornwallis  had  crossed  the  James  river,  with  the  largest  portion 
of  his  anny,  with  the  intention  of  catching  up  with  rear  guard. 


TO  OEN.  BIEDESEL'S  CAMI'AlGy. 


247 


Monsieur,  thereupon,  took  five  thousand  men  and  six  field  pieces, 
and,  in  tlie  afternoon,  attaclicd  the  advanced  posts  of  the  army  at 
Jamestown.  Lord  Cornwallis  allowed  the  enemy  to  approach  close 
to  his  lines,  when  he  marched  out  with  the  light  infantry  and  the 
80th,  76tli  and  43d  regiments,  beat  him,  captured  three  cannon,  and 
recrossed  the  river  on  the  7th. 

The  enemy's  sick  and  wounded  must  amount  to  several  hundred, 
while  our  loss  is  not  above  eighty. 

The  enemy  have  not  yet  crossed  the  James.  It  is  expected  that  it 
will  unite  with  the  army  of  General  Green  who  has  been  so  often 
whipped.  On  our  side,  it  is  thought  that  so  many  men  will  be  taken 
from  Cornwallis  (probably  for  the  defense  of  New  York)  that  we  can 
no  longer  act  on  the  offensive.  The  army  of  Marquise  de  Lafayette 
numbers  nine  thousand  men;  and  if  a  junction  should  be  formed 
between  the  French  and  Washington,  and  the  fact  become  known  to 
the  Americans,  a  great  increase  of  the  rebel  army  would  be  the 
result.  May  Heaven  protect  us  against  an  additional  force  of  the 
French. 

I  am  sincerely  sorry  for  the  severe  wound  of  Captain  liau,  and  for 
the  other  brave  men  who  fell  in  the  two  engagements.  I  contributed 
largely  on  my  part,  for  I  have  now  only  seventy-six  men  left. 

It  is  thought  that  this  army  will  leave  its  camp  and  march  to 
Portsmouth,  a  very  unpleasant  place.  I  should  greatly  dread  an 
attack  there  on  account  of  its  miserable  location.  Should  a  French 
fleet  meditate  an  attack  upon  the  place,  it  would  certainly  disembark 
troops  at  Lynhaven  bay,  occupy  the  county  of  Princess  Anna,  and 
cannonade  Portsmouth  from  the  rear,  where  it  is  greatly  exposed. 
And  just  as  sure  as  New  York  would  be  lost  by  the  capture  of 
Brooklyn,  consequent  upon  the  French  becoming  masters  of  the 
sound,  just  so  certainly  would  Portsmouth  be  lost  by  a  landing  at 
Princess  Anna.  Should  anything  else  worthy  of  mention  occur 
here  I  will  not  fail  to  acquaint  you  with  it. 


GENERAL  RIEDE8EL  TO  GENERAL  KNIPHAUSEN,  COMMANDER  OF  TUE 
HESSIAN  TROOPS. 

Quebec,  Sept.  39, 1781. 

I  have  the  honor  to  announce  to  you  my  safe  arrival  here  on  the 
12th  of  September.  We  had  a  long  and  unpleasant  voyage ;  and  the 
last  of  our  ships  have  but  just  reached  here. 

General  Haldimand  readily  acquiesces  in  sending  part  of  your  regi- 
ment to  New  York,  though  he  regrets  to  part  with  a  portion  of  the 


;tv  - 


248 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMKNTS  liKLATINO 


llcssiuim  ami  their  conunaiulcr  Colonel  Von  Hork,  with  both  of  whom 
lie  is  80  well  snlisfled. 

It  is  said  that  during  the  entire  slay  of  the  Hessians  here,  not  a  single 
instance  of  diseord  has  been  known  between  them  and  the  different 
nationalities,  and  the  inhabitants.  General  Loos,  who  commands  in 
the  lower  Canada  under  Ilaldimand,  has  gained  the  entire  confidence 
of  both  the  latter  and  the  Englishmen.  The  Hessians  love  him  equally 
well. 

General  Haldlmand  has  divided  all  the  troops  here  into  two  divisions. 
The  right,  or  the  English  wing,  has  been  given  to  General  Clarke,  and 
tlui  left,  or  the  German,  to  me.  Hrigadier  Loos  eonnnands,  under  mc, 
tlie  German  troops  at  (Quebec,  and  Hrigadier  Specht  those  of  the  Ger- 
mans that  are  in  the  vicinity  of  JMontreal. 

Lieutenant  Uitter  of  your  excellency's  regiment,  who  acts  as 
brigadier  major  to  Brigadier  Loos,  is  almost  indispensable  both  on 
account  of  his  ver.salility  in  the  English  language,  and  his  own  good 
compdcUmcnt  in  commanding  the  regiments  of  the  different  nation- 
alities. Haldimand  is  desirous  of  having  Loos  help  him.  lam  con- 
vinced your  excellency  will  not  take  offense  at  the  detention  of  this 
ofHcer. 

Hoping  that  the  army  will  have  the  good  fortune  to  serve  your 
excellency  another  year  in  America,  I  again  recommend  to  your 
protection  the  convention  troops,  and  trust  that  you  will,  through 
your  influence  with  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  bring  about  a  partial  if  not  a 
complete  change  in  their  condition.  Without  the  aid  of  your  ex- 
cellency, these  poor  men  are  entirely  forsaken. 

My  wife,  wliowill  never  lose  her  high  regard  for  your  excellency, 
desires,  with  my  entire  family  and  godchild,  to  be  njmembered. 

I  am,  etc., 

UlEDESEL. 


DEPARTURE   OP    LORD   COKNWAIXIS   AND    THE  HESSIAN  GENERAL 
KNU'IIAUSEN  TO  EUROPE,  IN  THE  YEAR  1781. 

KHract  from  <t  Letter  oft/ie  llesnum  Colonel  Voti  liomrodfrom 
New  York  to  Genenil  Jikdesel. 

Lord  Cornwallis  arrived  here  on  the  19th  of  November,  and  shortly 
after  continued  his  journey  to  England.  Since  the  unfortunate 
surrender  of  his  post  a  large  portion  of  the  hostile  army  have  been 
detached  to  tlie  south.  Geneml  Leslie  and  the  skillful  engineer 
artillery  major,  ]Moncrief,  were  ordered  to  proceed  to  Charleston  and 


TO  a  EN.  n//<,/)/':.'iEv,s  vamvaign. 


249 


place  tliat  post  in  ii  belter  defensive  condition.  Rut  uj)  to  tliis  lime 
notliinju:  of  any  account  lias  l)een  attenipled  against  it. 

Contrary  to  all  expectations,  Lieutenant  General  Sir  (}uy  Carlelon 
arrived  here  on  the  5th  of  May,  to  relieve  Sir  Henry  Clinton  of  the 
conunand.  Lieutenant  General  Von  Kniphaiisen,  also,  aller  repeat- 
edly asking  to  be  relieved,  flinilly  obtained  permission  to  resign.  A 
great  dinner  was  thereupon  given  to  these  two  generals  by  all  the 
English  staff  officers,  of  which  over  two  hundred  persons  partook. 
General  Clinton  having  turned  over  his  command  to  Carlcton,  and 
Kniphausen  having  resigned  his  to  Lieutemmt  General  Lossberg,  the 
two  generals  embarked,  on  the  18th  of  May,  on  board  the  ailmiral's 
ship  and  the  frigate  Pearl  amid  the  thunder  of  nineteen  cannon. 
The  embarkation  took  place  at  Fort  George.  The  Fortieth  regiment, 
at  that  time  in  garrison  at  New  York,  and  three  hundred  Jlessian 
grenadiers,  under  conunand  of  Lieutenant  General  Von  Linsing, 
formed  on  this  occasion  two  lines  from  the  quarters  of  General  Knip- 
hausen to  the  English  head  (|uarters  where  both  generals  entered  the 
boat. 

On  the  20th  the  garrison  of  this  island  were  reviewed  by  the  new 
commander  in  chief.  The  garrison  on  Long  island,  also,  underwent 
a  review,  on  the  2l8t,  between  Brooklyn  and  Jamaica.  Carleton 
expressed  his  satisfaction  with  both  reviews.  New  York  is  now 
being  fortified  by  batteries  and  works  running  from  the  East  to  the 
North  river;  and  the  work  is  so  diligently  pressed,  that,  including  the 
militia,  eight  hundred  men  are  daily  employed. 


'If! 


General  Kiedenel  to  Colonel  Romrod. 

(ii'EiiEC,  OrUihi'r  10,  1783. 

I  received  tiic  two  letters  of  my  best  friend,  dated  respectively  JNFay 
29th  and  August  19th,  a  few  days  since  by  the  lleet,  containing  our 
convention  officers.    The  joy  I  had  on  receiving  them,  is  indescribable. 

The  prospects  of  peace  arc  believed  here  almost  as  strongly  as  they 
are  with  you ;  but  within  the  last  fourteen  days  we  have  heard  the 
contrary  by  an  express  frigate  with  dispatches  totleneral  lialdimand, 
and  I  should  not  be  in  the  least  surprised  at  still  seeing  my  dear 
friend  Romrod  in  Canada.  Time  will  show  whether  or  not  I  am 
mistaken.  We  have  spent  this  year  very  ipiietly  here ;  and,  although 
I  command  the  chain  of  outposts,  I  have  seen  no  enemy  save  a  few 
prisoners  of  war  who  were  l)rought  in  from  time  to  time  by  my 
scouts.  I  am  at  prefjul  in  camp  with  eight  regiments  on  the  Isle 
aux  Noix,  were  1"  am  fortifying  a  very  favorable  position.  General 
Loos,  with  three  reginients,  is  on  the  other  side  of  the  St.  Lawrence 


'  w* 


■ 


250 


0FFJC7AL  DOVUMhNTS  UELATINO 


opposite  Quebec.  The  other  regiments  of  our  army  ure  distribuleil 
here  and  tliere  in  sinRle  posts  and  garrisons.  Tlie  troops,  I  presume, 
will  go  into'winter  (luurters  tlie  l)eginning  of  next  niontli,  wlien  I 
sliull  very  prol)al)ly  talce  up  my  old  quarters  in  Sorel,  and  conunund 
tlie  same  districts  as  last  year. 

At  Sorel,  where  my  head  quarters  are,  I  have  a  good,  comfortable 
house,  whicli  General  Ilaldimand  had  prepared  for  nie.  I  have 
laid  out  tliere  myself  a  very  large  garden.  This,  with  the  adjoining 
land,  t\irni8hes  mo  with  sufficient  pastime,  as  well  as  sujiport  for  my 
family  and  cattle.  In  fact,  I  am  as  much  of  a  farmer  as  my  duties 
will  allow  me  to  be. 

My  wife  has  been  very  well  of  late.  She  is  in  good  spirits,  and  is 
near  lier  confinement.  May  fortune  grant  that  it  may  be  a  son ! 
Gusta  is  my  milkmaid,  and  lier  sister  does  nothing  l)Ut  collect 
the  news  of  which  she  keeps  a  diary.  All  the  children,  thanks  to 
God,  are  well. 

I  have  come  here  for  a  few  days  to  make  some  arrangements  in 
regard  to  the  officers  and  recruits  who  arrived  from  New  York. 
My  wife  not  knowing  anything  of  my  receiving  a  letter  from  you, 
has  not  asked  me  to  send  her  compliments ;  but  I  can  safely  do  it  in 
her  name,  as  slie,  together  with  all  my  family,  always  remember  your 
honor  with  a  never  ending  friendship. 

I  remain,  etc., 

RiEDESEL. 


PLAN  OF  SIK  HENRY  CLINTON  FOK  A  DIVERSION  (WITH  THE  CO- 
OPERATION OF  CANADA)  THROUGH  THE  CHESAPEAKE  HIOHLANDS 
AND  UP  THE  POTOMAC,  SUSQUEHANNAH,  ETC.,  COMMUNICATED  IN 
CONFIDENCE  TO  MAJOR  GENERAL  RIEDESEL  WITH  ORDERS  TO 
COMMUNICATE  IT  TO  GENERAL  HALDIMAND. 

As  there  can  be  no  doubt — judging  by  the  news  from  Europe, 
and  by  intercepted  letters  from  French  officers,  under  Rochambeau, 
to  the  French  consul  in  Philadelphia  —  that  there  is  an  intention,  at 
the  present  time,  to  attack  Canada,  General  Clinton  hopes  that  Gene- 
ral Haldimand  will  be  able  to  spare  two  thousand  men  for  an  expedi- 
tion from  Niagara,  Lake  Erie  and  Presqu'isle,  against  Fort  Pitt,  the 
Ohio  river,  and  the  settlements  in  the  rear  of  Virginia  and  Pennsyl- 
vania. Sucli  an  undertaking  would  greatly  facilitate  an  expedition 
from  the  Chesapeake  highlands,  which,  it  is  hoped,  will  be  the  more 
successful,  from  the  supposed  willingness  of  the  settlers  along  the 
Ohio  to  submit  to  the  government  of  Great  Britain  on  the  condition 


TO  UKS.  ItlKDKHKVS  (AMI'AIOM. 


251 


tlmt  tliey  shnll  be  entirely  separiitcil  from  Virginiii  iiiul  Pcmwylvftiiia 
iiiiil  form  a  distinct  province. 

All  necessary  magazines  lor  iirovisions,  arlill"ry,  l)ajr;j;ai;e,  etc., 
liaving  been  ercctiHl  at  Niagara,  it  Is  thought  that  the  corps  from 
Canada  will  be  able  to  cross  I^ake  Va'w  in  vessels  and  occupy  a 
strong  position  on  I'resiiu'isle.  Here,  it  could  cstal)lish  itself  in  such 
a  manner,  by  fortitications,  etc.,  that  there  woidd  be  no  danger 
either  of  its  being  driven  out  by  superior  numbers  or  its  retreat  being 
cut  off  by  water. 

And  even  if  we  should  not  succeed  in  capturing  Prcsqu'isle  by 
surprising  Fort  Pitt,  we  would  soon  ascertain  the  sentiments  of  the 
people  along  the  Ohio.  If  they  are  found  to  be  favorable  to  the  king, 
and  willing  to  dc^fend  the  defiles  in  the  Alleghany  mountains  and 
Blue  Uidge,  a  foothold  might  be  gained  arter  a  while  at  Fort  Pitt, 
and  two  posts  established  at  Shenango  and  Venango.  Thus,  com- 
munications would  be  kept  up  between  Fort  Pitt  and  Presciu'isle, 
a  circumstance  which  woidd  greatly  facilitate  the  incursions  of  the 
savages  in  carrying  destruction  on  tlie  rear  of  Virginia  and  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

If  Fort  Pitt  could  not  be  taken  either  by  ennning  or  surprise,  and 
we  should  find  ourselves  entirely  deceived  in  regard  to  the  sentiments 
of  the  people  along  the  Ohio,  we  would  have  to  be  content  with  the 
capture  of  Prcscju'lsle.  This  post  should  then  be  made  as  strong  as 
possible,  while,  at  the  same  lime,  we  could  push  forward  and  establish 
two  posts  at  Shenango  and  Venango,  protected  by  two  redoubts,  and 
thus  preserve  the  water  communication.  Tlie  Indians  would  have 
to  be  sent  to  those  posts  in  advance,  with  orders  to  devastate  the 
conntry  as  much  as  was  consistent  with  prudence  and  caution. 

The  officer,  in  command  of  tlie  Canadian  corps,  must  await  in  this 
position  the  result  of  the  expedition  undertaken  from  Cliesai)eake 
bay;  and,  through  messengers,  iie  must  be  in  constant  communica- 
tion with  the  general  in  command.  He  must,  also,  do  all  in  his  power 
to  afford  him  support,  by  a  prudent  cooperation. 

Sir  Henry  Clinton,  in  order  to  conceal  tlie  real  intention  of  this  ex- 
pedition, will  pretend  to  start  with  a  small  corjjs  from  the  Mohawk 
river  to  Oswego,  as  if  for  the  pui'iiose  of  capturing  Fort  Stanwix. 
This  corps  shall  devastate  the  country  as  far  as  lies  in  tlieir  power, 
and  shall  return  to  Oswego  afler  a  certain  time. 

If  the  fleet  on  Lake  Cliamplain  could,  at  the  same  time,  with  a  few 

Canadian  volunteers  and  rangers,  make  a  few  excursions  to  Ticonde- 

rogaand  Fort  George  and  even  beyond,  this  third  expedition  would, 

as  a  matter  of  course,  confuse  the  enemy  still  more,  especially  when 

SI* 


f    •  ^ 


25'2 


OFFICIAL   DOCVMESTS  KKlAriNO 


he  found  lilmsclC,  in  luldition  to  nil  tlilH,  altiickcd  HinuiltnnconHly  In 
('iirolinu,  Vir^'iniii,  anil  Miiryliind. 

Gcncrnl  Sir  Ilcniy  Clinton  expects  to  be  aide  to  nnderlnkc  Ids  ex- 
|)cdition  ininu'diatcly  upon  the  plan  o(  Washington  and  Uoehaiidienii 
iM'ln;,'  known.  This  will  proliaidy  take  (dace  in  the  ndddle  of  winter 
or  at  the  he;;inninK  of  spring;  hnt  the  diversion  from  Canada  must 
come  off  as  near  the  same  lime  as  his  as  possihlo,  since  the  nearer  to- 
g<'tlier  they  are,  llic  better  results  he  expects  from  it.  For  he  deems 
the  surest  nielliod  of  putting;  an  end  to  the  revolution,  to  be  in  sc|)a- 
ratiuK  the  inhabitants  alon^  the  Ohio  and  Kentucky  from  the  other 
revolted  i)rovinces. 


ii 


l'r.AN  OK  AN  KXPKDITION  FHOM  CANADA  AGAINST  TIIK  OHIO  KIVKK 
AND  ALLKdIIANY  MOINTAINS  AND  IIU'K  UIDOK.  IN  COOI'KUATION 
WITH  AN  KXI'KDITION  OK  TIIK  AUMY  OF  NKW  VOUK  AdAINHT 
MOl'NT  CHKSAI'EAKE.  DHAWN  IP  «Y  GENEUAL  UIEDEHEL  IN  1781, 
FOR  OENEKAI.  CLINTON, 

The  army  of  Canada  consists  of  the  8th,  21)th,  Hist,  ;i4th,  44th,  and 
the  r)!(d  rej,'inu'nts,  one  hundred  and  (illy  men  of  the  47th,  a  battalioa 
of  the  84tli,  Sir  J(dui  Johnson's  reifimcnt,  Yessop's  battalion  of  pro- 
vincials, six  Brunswick  liattalions  (which,  on  account  of  the  smallness 
of  their  nundter,  arc  formed  into  tliree),  one  battalion  of  Hanaii  yiigers, 
one  half  a  battalion  ot  Hanau  infantry,  one  Hessian  battalion,  one 
battalion  Anhalt  Zerbst,  and  the  dragoon  regiment.  The  whole,  with 
the  exception  of  the  8th  infantry,  already  destined  for  the  defense  of 
llie  upper  lakes,  if  we  count  each  battalion  at  four  hundred  men, 
amounts  to  six  thousand  troops.  Suppose  then,  that  we  could  spare 
two  thousand  live  hundred  regular  troops  during  tlie  season  of  the 
year,  when  a  French  invasion  from  the  seaboard  need  not  be  feared,  I 
would  propose,  since  the  fleets  on  the  lakes  '  arc  amply  sulllcient  to 
protect  the  frontiers  of  Canada  in  the  direction  of  Albany,  that  four 
battalions  of  infantry,  three  companies  of  yiigers,  and  three  com- 
panies of  Canadians,  with  a  jiroportionate  amount  of  artillery,  be  sent 
to  Niagara  in  vessels.  Meanwhile,  the  ofllcers  of  the  8th  regiment, 
before  setting  out,  should  collect  as  many  Indians  as  pos.sible,  and  the 
war  vessels  should  be  rendezvoused  at  tlie  mouth  of  Lake  Erie,  op- 
posite Niagara. 

It  would  be  necessary  also,  to  supply  this  corps  not  only  w'"''  "* 
guns  necessary  for  battalions,  but  with  cannon  with  which  to 


'  Clmniplaiii  and  fli!orjji'. 


TO  <lK\.  lilKhHSKL's  C.iM/'.l/f/.V 


25a 


i: 


the  Ibrtw  tlmt  will  liivvo  to  bts  (f8tiil)llHii(!(l  lor  tho  coinnuiiiidUion  willi 
tilt!  liikt's  irlicii  tills  corpH  sliiiU  lmv(^  iidviincctl  towiinl  llii'  Ohio. 

Corrcsiiondiiij^  prcimriitions  should  liki'wiso  lie  iiiude  lor  pi'oviHloiiH, 
lioHpltiil  HiippHcH,  liiiggiigo,  aiiHiuiiilMoii  mid  tlui  (tn^ineor  (UvIhIoii  ; 
and  11  tiik'iitcd  mid  uctlvi;  iiimi*  sent  uJiiMid  to  Niii,u;iini  to  iniikc  the 
luux'HHury  iirrmijjcineiitH  us  soon  iis  tho  c'xpe<litioii  shall  \\\i\v  Itccii 
imdcrtaktiii.  All  this  could  ho  done  uiidci'  tii(!  jiri'tcxt,  that  an  at- 
tempt against  Niagara  was  feared,  and  it  was,  IJuirefore,  nee(^ssal■y  to 
he  placed  in  a  thoroughly  defensive  eondllloii. 

The  troops  uiion  arriving  at  Niagiira,  siioiild  locate  a  post  near  tiio 
iiioulh  of  Lake  Erie,  and  vessels,  artillery,  l)aggag<'  and  lents  trans- 
ported to  the  carrying  i»lace.  After  this  is  all  uccoinplislied,  the 
troops  must  march  to  Lake  Erie,  emhark,  and  land  on  tli(!  east  side 
of  the  lake  at  a  given  point,  perhaiis  Presipi'lsle.  The  moment  they 
arrive  there,  two  detachments,  composed  oi'  yiigers,  Canadians,  and 
provincials,  should  be  sent  forward  to  gei,  a  footing  at  Shenango, 
ami  afterwards  at  Venango.  The  Canadians  are  to  operate  in  front 
of  tlufse  detaclimeuls,  while  the  major  partof  thee.xptidition  remains 
at  Presqu'isle,  to  put  it  In  a  suitable  condition  for  being  the  great 
rendezvous.  An  effort  should  also  be  made,  if  possible,  to  have  tlio 
Indians,  supported  by  the  advance  guard,  capture  Fort  Pitt  either 
by  cunning  or  a  surprise.  This  fort  is  said  to  be  situated  at  a  distance 
of  ninety  miles  by  land  from  the  old  French  I'o.id.  In  this  case  the 
expedition  should  he  undertaken  as  soon  as  there  is  a  clianci!  to 
march  in  tlie  direction  of  Venango,  which  can  be  done  on  vessels 
down  the  Alleghany  river.  A  post,  however,  in  a  redoubt,  must  be 
left  at  Shenango.  When  we  are  masters  of  Fort  Pitt,  wt;  shall  soon 
see  what  are  the  sentiments  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  region.  If  they 
are  willing  to  submit  to  the  government  of  the  king  and  defend 
themselves,  I  believ(!  we  risk  nothing  in  occupying  Fort  Pitt  with  the 
yiigers  and  oiu;  regiment  of  regulars,  as  it  can  be  reenforced  eitbt^r 
by  land  or  water  as  is  thought  liest.  It  will  also  be  well,  perhaps,  to 
build  a  few  gunboats  to  |)rolect  the  navigation  from  one  post  to 
another.  As  soon  as  we  have  a  foothold  at  Fort  Pitt,  the  Indians 
can  be  sent  into  the  Alleghany  mountains,  and  thence  still  farther  to 
the  source  of  the  Pottmiac,  as  far  as  the  Cumberland  and  the  Juniatu 
river,  wliicli  empties  near  Frankstown,  into  the  Susquehannah  river. 
If  the  settlers  on  the  Ohio  are  willing  to  take  up  arms,  or  to  place 
outposts  in  the  front  of  Fort  Pitt,  between  the  Monongahela  and  the 
Honykigany  rivers  to  their  left,  then  a  post  in  the  passes  near  Fort 
Ligonier  and  Conemak  Oldtown  can  be  es'tablislied.  As  soon  as  the 
other  or  complementary  expedition  from  the  Chesapeake  is  on  the 
way,  the  manceuvrcs  of  both  armies  will  b(!Come  more  in  harmony 


•w 


254 


OFFICIAL  DOVVMBNTti  liELA  TINO 


witli  each  other;  nwA  bodies  of  regiiliir  troops  can,  every  Httlc  wliile, 
be  sent  out  in  lulvnnce  from  right  to  left,  without  miicli  risk,  until 
there  is  not  a  liostile  post  leil  tliis  side  of  Fort  Pitt.  I  believe  tliat 
Fort  Pitt  is  too  far  off  to  risk  an  engagement  witli  tlic  enemy  —  taking 
into  view  tlm  distance  for  retreat  in  case  of  defeat  —  but  I  also  believe 
that  we  may  attack,  and  act  on  the  defensiv:"  near  Shenango  and 
Venango  (if  the  enemy  ventures  so  far),  as  it  would  then  be  almost 
impossibh)  for  us  to  be  cut  off  from  the  reiulezvous  at  Presqu'isle, 
where  we  could  take  to  our  boats.  If,  however,  the  inhabitants 
should  act  witli  us,  we  could  act  mon;  powerfully,  and  the  rangers 
of  the  left  wing  might  be  sent  on  a  raid  into  Virginia  and  Pennsyl- 
vania. It  would  also  be  of  great  and  important  l)cnefit,  if  Win- 
chester—  a  city  of  considerable  injportance  on  the  main  road  from 
Philadelphia  to  Virginia — could  be  destroyed,  and  if  incursions 
could  be  made  upon  what  is  called  the  great  wagon  road.  Thus  all 
communication  between  the  northern  and  southern  provinces  would 
be  destroyed.  Jiut  sui)posing  that  the  enemy,  which  is  not  very  likely, 
should  rally  a  urge  force  while  the  expedition  was  getting  under 
way  from  the  Ciiesapeake  —  and  supposing  again  that  it  would  be 
dangerous  to  support  this  expedition  even  as  far  as  Venango — we. 
could  easily  fall  back  on  our  rendezvous  at  Presqu'isle ;  and  as  the 
enemy  could  not  reuuiiu  in  Ibis  'i-gion,  we  could  follow  him  eveiy 
time  h(!  retreated. 

The  rest  of  tiiis  e.vpedition  depends  on  local  circumstances  regarding 
which  I  can  makt;  no  conjectures,  ntjt  being  acquainted  with  the 
country  any  further  than  what  I  have  learned  from  the  map. 

A  corps  constructed  on  similar  principles  to  the  above,  might 
operate  in  the  same  manner  ii\  this  section,  luitil  the  French  prepare 
for  an  invasion  of  Canada  in  earnest,  in  which  case  Ithiukour  troops 
could  be  back  at  Montreal  in  two  months. 

For  the  purpose  of  deceiving  the  enemy  in  regard  to  the  real  object 
of  this  expedition,  another  corps,  consisting  of  Moiiawk  Indians, 
one  yiigcr  company,  the  reginu'ul  of  Sir  Jolni  Joiuison,  and  supplied 
with  vesseis,artillery,et<'.,  might  proceed  to  Oswego,  repair  the  fort 
in  that  jdace,  and  extend  its  ojierations  as  far  as  Fort  Stanwix  and 
the  German  Flats.  This  would  greatly  puzzle  the  rebels ;  but  in  case 
of  such  an  expedition  being  undertaken,  we  must  noi  pretend  U)  ^o  it: 
the  NV'orks  of  FortStanwix  must  aetiialli/  be  destroyed,  and  in  ca.se  we 
are  forced  by  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy  to  fall  back  on  Oswego, 
this  post  uuist  be  kep'  at  all  hazards  until  Ueiu'ral  Haldinuind  thinks 
it  advisable  to  gather  together  all  his  fcures  into  the  interior. 

The  entire  fleet,  also,  must  be  sent  from  St.  John  to  Crown  point, 
as  soon  as  tlu!  season  of  the  year  permits  it.     Major  Carleton,  with 


TO  OES.  UIEDESELH  VAMVxVWN. 


255 


the  mngers,  saviiges  from  the  interior  of  Canivda,  and  Canadian 
volunteers,  will  be  of  this  party.  They  will  then  make  raids  upon 
Ticonderoga,  Lake  George  and  Albany ;  but  this  must  be  done  with 
great  caution,  so  as  not  to  be  surprised,  or  injure  the  Ilamshirc  grants 
called  the  province  of  Vermont.  Crown  point  will  always  remain  the 
rendezvous  for  the  raiders,  and  the  fleet  will  always  cover  this  post 
as  long  as  the  season  of  the  year  allows.  I  believe  there  is  nothing 
to  hinder  tliis  plan,  except  that  it  will  be  impossible  to  cross  the  upper 
St.  Lawrence  after  the  month  of  October ;  that  the  transportation  of 
provisions  and  baggage  from  3Iontreal  to  Niagara,  so  late  in  the 
season,  will  be  connected  with  dilllculties ;  and  that  the  Indians  can 
only  be  rallied  at  a  certain  season  of  the  year.  I,  however,  also  be- 
lieve that  these  impediments  can  easily  be  overcome.  A  certain 
Captain  Twiss,  who  was  employed  by  General  Phillips  in  the  cam- 
paigns of  1776  and  1777,  has  solved  questions  which  seemed  impossible. 
He  is  now  in  Canada. 

I  beg  you  will  excuse  it  if  the  names  of  places  and  rivers  are  given 
incorrectly  in  tliis  plan.  I  have  had  only  a  general  map  to  assist  me, 
which  renders  it  impossible  to  give  them  with  accuracy.' 


A  PLAN  BY  WHICH  IT  MAY  BE  POSSIBLE  SO  TO  WEAUY  THE  AMERI- 
CAN PROVINCES  THAT  IT  SHALL  NOT  BE  POSSIBLE  FOR  TllE.M  TO 
PAY  THE  EXPENSES  OF  THE  WAR.  WRITTEN  BY  GENERAL  RIED- 
ESEL,  NO  DATE  ^IVEN. 

1st.  A  eor[)s  of  lie  main  army  under  the  immediate  command 
of  the  general  in  chief  of  North  America,  consisting  of  twenty-four 
battalions,  two  regiments  of  dragoons,  with  sullicient  anillcry  at 
New  York  city,  New  York  island.  Long  island,  and  Stiiten  island; 
a  large,  and  carefully  arranged  fort  on  Long  island,  and  on  Stateii 
island  for  the  defense  of  the  narrow  jiassage  of  Sandy  hook  ;  a  well 
planned  fort  for  the  defense  of  the  narrow  channel  between  .Jersey 
and  Slaten  island ;  another  one  on  Long  island  for  the  defense  of  the 
narrows  at  Ilellgale,  and  to  save  troops  as  far  as  possible;  a  naval 
force,  under  the  chief  admiral,  consisting  of  four  ships  of  the  line  ana 


'  Although  the  plan,  Hivcn  l)y  Clinton  to  RicUi'scl  tor  Ilulillniiuul,  in  t;ivcn  first  in 
the  origlnnl,  yut  it  Hecnix  altoKCtliur  protmljlo  that  ttiirt  plan  of  Oencral  RiudcHcl 
wa»  originated  by  him  anil  given  to  Clinton,  who,  thereupon,  Incorpomted  Its 
e.\aet  features,  or  rather  reproduced  it  for  Haldiinand.  Thin  Kuppo^ition,  moreover, 
in  rendered  additionally  probable  by  the  fact  that  Rledesel  nketched  (see  a  few 
pages  Imekl  a  very  sindlar  plan  of  operations  in  a  letter  to  Phillips  some  time 
provioiiHly.—  Tra)islaU>i . 


mv.^i: 


2m 


OFFICIAL  DOC'UMBiVTS  liULATINO 


V-, 


six  frigates  to  protect  tlie  const  from  nil  hostile  attacks  from  the  sea- 
board. 

2cl.  A  corps  of  eight  battalions  with  the  proper  artillery,  and  about 
eighty  mounted  ytigers  or  volunteers  on  Rhode  island.  This  island 
would  have  to  be  better  fortified  than  at  present ;  and  tlic  city  of 
Newport,  or  another  better  situated  post  also  fortified  that  it  could 
not  be  taken  without  a  regular  siege  of  two  months.  This  latter 
post  to  be  likewise  protected  by  a  ficet  of  one;  ship  of  the  line  and 
three  frigates,  under  the  conunand  of  a  commodore. 

Ud.  To  obtain  possession  of  a  post  ))etween  Newport  and  Halifax, 
either  in  the  vicinity  of  Portsmouth,  not  far  from  New  Castle  island, 
or  in  ti»e  Kasko  or  Kenncbeck  bay.  The  main  thing  in  the  selection 
of  such  a  post  is,  a  good  safe  harbor,  and  suitable  ground  on  which 
to  construct  a  fort  suflieiently  strong,  not  only  to  defend  the  harbor, 
but  to  resist  for  a  time  any  assault  by  land.  Four  regiments,  with 
l)roper  artillery,  and  fifty  volunteers  or  n\ounted  dragoons,  should  be 
stationed  in  the  fortifications.  Three  frigates,  under  a  commodore, 
should  also  protect  the  harbor. 

4lh.  Halifax,  the  dock  yard  of  North  America,  should  be  protected 
by  four  regiments,  and  a  ileet  of  four  frigates  and  two  ships  of  the 
line. 

5tii.  The  two  capes,  south  of  New  York,  viz :  Charles  and  Henry, 
should  be  fortified,  or,  still  better,  two  strong  forts  further  up  the 
Chesapeake,  in  tiie  vicinity  of  tJloucester  or  Hampton,  should  be 
built  and  fortified  to  withstand  a  siege.  For  this  purpose  ten  regi- 
ments and  one  hundred  horses,  with  proper  artillerj',  will  be  required 
to  cover  these  fortifications  and  keep  the  Chesapeake  clear.  Two 
ships  of  the  line  and  six  frigates  will  also  be  ne(!essary. 

Oth.  To  defend  the  coast  completely,  and  before  adopting  this  plan, 
Charleston,  in  South  t'iirolina,  must  be  taken  by  a  well  sujiportcd 
expedition.  It  should  be  well  fortified,  so  that  it  can  be  held  by  a 
garrison  of  four  regiments,  fitly  horse  and  proper  artilUMy,  until  it 
can  he  sui)ported  from  another  direction.  A  ship  of  liie  line  and 
three  frigates  will  ct>ver  the  harbor  and  fortifications. 

7th.  Savannah,  or  another  post  in  Georgia,  to  be  fortified  and 
manned  by  thirty  regiments,  fifty  horse  and  the  proper  artillery,  and 
to  be  protected  by  one  ship  of  the  line  and  three  frigates. 

Hth.  St.  Augustina,  in  Florida,  to  be  defended  by  two  regiments 
with  the  proper  artillery  and  two  frigates. 

Jttli.  A  tleel  of  observation  of  four  ships  of  the  line  and  six  frigates 
under  an  admiral,  six  regiments,  one  hundred  horse  and  the  proper 
artillery  to  be  in  constant  readiness  to  undertake  expeditions  into 


TO  GEN.  UIEDKHEL-S  CAMPAIGN. 


267 


the  soiitliern  portions  of  America,  and  reenforce  tliose  posts  in  case 
of  an  hostile  attaci;. 

lOtli.  A  similar  fleet  to  operate  against  the  northern  provinces. 

The  entire  effective  force  in  America,  after  manning  the  above 
named  placets  and  fortifying  them,  \v(mld  be  as  follows : 


iNFANTKY. 

Cavalbv. 

AnTiL- 

I-EBY. 

SlIII-S  OF 

TUB  Line. 

FUIQATEa. 

New  York, 

Between  I{lindcl><- 
liuid  and  Ilaltfax, . 

Newport, 

Hnlilnx, 

Chewipeakc  Bay, . . 
Charleston, 

liattaliom. 
21 

4 
8 
4 
10 
4 
3 
2 

0 

C 

Men. 
600 

50 

80 

100 
50 

100 
100 

Companies. 
4 

1 
2 
2 
2 
1 
1 
1 

2 

2 

4 

1 
2 
2 

1 
1 

4 
4 

(i 

3 
3 
4 
U 
3 
3 

St.  AngMslina, 

Soutliorn  C'orpn   of 

oljiiervallon, 

Norlhcrn  corps   of 

observation 

8 

0 
6 

TOTAI-, 

71 

1130 

18 

19 

41 

Three  bodies  of  savages,  supported  by  rangers  and  volunteers,  must 
constantly  ravage  and  harrass  the  frontiers  of  the  colonies  from 
Niagara  and  Oswego,  so  that  not  only  will  the  inhabitants  of  that 
fertile  country  be  compelled  to  leave  their  plantations,  but  the  enemy 
will  be  forced  to  maintain  an  army  iii  every  province  in  addition  to 
the  large  one  operating  against  New  York.  The  maintenance  of  these 
different  coqis  will  soon  cause,  in  every  province,  such  a  want  of  am- 
munition, provisions  and  money,  that  it  will  be  impossible  for  them 
either  to  send  supplies  to  the  main  army  or  support  their  connnou 
expenses  by  taxes. 

Expeditions,  also,  must  at  once  be  sent  into  those  porfions  of  the 
country  where  it  is  foiuid  that  the  enemy  are  asleep  or  his  militia 
scattered;  and  stores,  i)rovisious,  catlle,and  men  lit  for  the  .service 
must  Ite  carried  off.  These  expeditions  must  be  pressed  until  the 
enen\y  is  compelled  to  send  troops  from  his  main  army  while  we  arc 
operating. 

The  general,  who  commands  this  expedition,  must  possess  sound 
Judgment.  He  must  never  risk  an  ('<7/(r  /  neither  should  h(^  retreat 
until  the  object  of  the  expedition  is  accoiniilished.  .Vs  soon,  moreover, 
as  the  commanding  general  learns  that  the  troops,  having  iu;com- 
plished  their  object,  an;  about  to  return,  he  must  send  out  a  new  ex- 
pedition in  an  opposite  direclion,  whieli  must  be  carried  out  with  the 
same  energy.     I  believe  that  four  successive  expeditions  can  l)c  under- 


■  1  • 


258 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS  liELATINO 


taken  during  a  j'car,  two  in  a  nortlierly  and  two  in  a  soutlierly  direction. 
As  soon  as  tlic  troops  return  from  one  expedition,  tliey  are  to  replace 
tliosc  garrisons  tliat  have  been  weakened  by  furnisliing  men  for  ex- 
peditions already  out.  The  captured  provisions,  cattle,  etc.,  arc  to 
furnisli  the  garrisons  with  fresh  supplies. 

In  addition  to  tluisc  large  expeditions  planned  by  the  commanding 
general,  tlie  officer  in  command  of  a  post  is  to  carry  on  a  constant 
skirmishing  warfare  in  his  vicinity,  send  now  small  detachments 
and  now  large  ones,  surprise  the  enemy  here  and  there,  by  day  and 
night.  He  should,  especially,  profit  by  the  rough  season  of  the  year 
and  the  winter,  at  whicli  times  the  enemy  generally  becomes  careless. 
He  should,  also,  make  the  most  of  the  summer  in  harvesting  time 
when  the  militia  are  forced  to  disperse  to  gather  in  their  crops. 

By  such  a  miniature  warfare  not  only  is  the  enemy  compelled  to 
keep  a  considerable  corps  of  observation,  but  the  garrisons  have,  at 
the  same  time,  the  advantage  of  being  supplied  with  all  kinds  of  fresh 
supplies.  The  inhabitants  are  likewise,  by  such  a  course,  kept  in  con- 
stant fear  and  terror.  Such  little  expeditions,  also,  would  be  greatly 
facilitated  by  having  a  certain  number  of  cavalry  added  to  each  garri- 
son. 

Those  inhabitants  wV^,  eithev  by  land  or  water,  bring  provisions 
to  the  garrisons,  shouiu  bo  promptly  and  liberally  paid  in  cash.  Love 
of  gain  will  therefore  induce  them  to  bring  more  supplies  as  well  as 
news  from  the  enemy,  and  the  number  of  tories  will  also  be  increased. 
Such  people,  however,  must  never  be  allowed  to  enter  the  city,  or  go 
anywhere  where  they  might  discover  the  condition  of  the  fort  or 
garrison. 

But  should  all  this  fail  to  rouse  Washington  from  his  lethargj', 
and  should  it  be  his  plan  to  have  each  province  protect  itself  with  its 
own  militia,  then  we  must  prolong  our  expeditions  and  advance  into 
the  interior  as  far  as  the  rivers  will  permit.  We  must  then  go  into 
entrenched  camp.s  from  which  we  can  fit  out  new  expeditions  to  devas- 
tate the  level  land  as  much  as  possible.  This  course  not  only  will 
ruin  the  provinces,  but  the  inhabitants  will  be  very  angry  because 
Washingf  on  and  congress  refused  to  assist  them  ;  yea,  it  will  finally 
cause  a  si  parat  ion  of  the  confed(!rate  provinces. 

Should  Washington,  either  of  his  own  incliniition,  or  by  the  com- 
mand of  congress,  at  the  reciuesl  of  the  sulfering  provinces,  make  a 
general  moveuu'ul  with  his  army  and  send  out  such  strong  detach- 
ments as  to  weaken  him,  then  our  main  army  migiit  make  itself 
master  of  the  highlands,  and  thus  bring  about  the  long  desired  sepa- 
ration between  the  northern  and  southern  i  rovinces  But  such  a 
itiDVement  shoidd  not  be  unilertaken  imtil   NVu Ellington  has  shown 


TO  OEN.  JHEDESEL'S  CAMPAIGN. 


269 


Ilia  liand,  ami  his  troops  are  too  far  away  to  support  the  post  that  is 
to  1)0  captured. 

Hut  should  it  be  Washington's  plan  to  allow  our  troops  to  proceed 
unmolested  on  their  expedition,  widle,  at  th(!  same  time,  he  attacked 
one  of  our  posts,  the  latter  (as  we  have  before  shown),  would  l)e  too 
well  fortified  to  be  taken  by  surprise,  and  could  easily  hold  out  until 
we  came  to  its  relief  Having  tlius  placed  the  besieging  army 
between  two  fires,  we  should  either  gain  a  comi)letc  victory,  or  cap- 
ture the  largest  part  of  his  heavy  artillery  and  si(!ge  train. 

I  believe,  also,  that  it  would  be  a  good  idea  to  keep  an  eye  upon 
those  Americans  who  enter  into  our  service  as  tories.  They  should 
never  be  allowed  to  be  in  one  corps  by  themselves,  but  should  be  in- 
corporated into  the  English  regiments.  These  men  would  thus  com- 
uumd  more  respect  by  being  in  the  company  of  national  troops,  and 
would  love  their  king  and  regiment  better;  but  in  case  of  deserticjns, 
an  entire  corps  would  not  be  ruined.  Regimental  ollices  should  also 
be  given  to  Americans  of  distinction,  for  the  sake  of  creating  emula- 
tion. Such  a  course  might  induce  many  from  the  provinces  to  join 
our  army.  Indeed,  I  feel  confident  that  each  infantry  regiment,  now 
serving  in  America,  would  thereby  be  increased  to  two  battalions  in  a 
short  time.  Thus,  most  of  our  recruits  could  be  obtained  in  America, 
and  our  own  army  strengthened  in  proportion  as  that  of  the  Americans 
were  weakened.  In  pursuing  this  policy,  however,  care  should  be 
taken  to  have  our  northern  regiments  filled  with  Americans  from  the 
south,  and  our  southern  ones  with  recruits  from  the  north. 

It  must  be  added,  as  a  necessary  part  of  the  above  programme,  that 
the  ministry  of  Great  Britain  must  watch  the  steps  which  Franco 
takes  in  regard  to  America,  and  must  endeavor  to  prevent  her  sending 
rcnforcements  either  for  tlie  army  or  navy.  Should  this,  however, 
be  impossible,  then  a  force  in  proportion  to  that  sent  by  France  must 
be  sent  over  at  once  to  preserve  the  equilibrium  of  power. 

Judging  by  the  knowleilge  of  America  I  acquired  in  traveling 
through  it,  1  believe  that  a  war  carried  tm  in  the  way  I  have  described, 
for  two  years,  would  so  weaken  the  country,  increase  the  war  expenses, 
and  make  the  farmer  as  well  as  the  merchant  so  tired  of  it,  that  the 
Americans  would  surely  accept  the  conditionsplfered  by  the  crown. 
In  case  they  acknowledged  their  dependence  on  England,  everything 
they  asked  for  could  be  granted,  with  the  exception  that  England 
should  keep  the  forts  on  tlie  coast  and  in  the  interior  garrisoned  and 
placed  in  a  better  condition  of  defense.  A  considerable  English  licet 
woulil,  also,  have  to  be  scattered  near  the  different  i)orts  on  the  sea- 
board. 

33* 


m. 


^v 


2G0 


OFFICIAL  novUMENTS  It  ELATING 


The  above  is  and  can  be  the  only  means  of  keeping  this  wonderfully 
growing  nation  dependent  on  the  king;  otherwise,  it  will  outgrow 
the  Englisli  nation  during  the  next  century. 


IN8TKUCTIONS  FOR  LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  BAUME,   ON  A  SECRET 
EXPEDITION  TO  THE  CONNECTICUT  UIVEU.' 


\The  erasures  %oere  made  by  Oene- 
ml  Burgoyne!'] 

The  object  of  youi'  expedition  is 
to  try  the  affections  of  the  coun- 
try, to  disconcert  the  councils  of 
the  enemy,  to  mount  the  Reidesel's 
dragoons,  to  complete  Peters's 
corps,  and  to  obtain  large  supplies 
of  cattle,  liorses  and  carriages. 

The  several  corps,  of  which  the 
inclosed  is  a  list,  are  to  be  under 
your  command. 

The  troops  must  take  no  tents, 
and  what  little  baggage  is  carried 
by  ofllcei-s  must  be  on  their  own 
bat  horses. 

You  are  to  proceed  by  the  route 
from  Batten  kill  to  Arlington, 
and  take  post  there,  so  as  to  secure 
t/ie  jmssfrom  Manchester.  You  are 
to  remain  at  Arlington  till  the  de- 
tachment of  the  provincials,  under 
the  command  of  Captain  Sher- 
wood, shall  join  you  from  the 
southward. 

You  are  then  to  proceed  to  Man- 
chester, where  you  take  post  so  as 
to  secure  the  pass  of  the  moun- 
tains on  the  road  from  Mancliester 
to  Hockingham ;  lience  you  will 
detnch  the  Indians  and  light  troops 
to  the  northward,  toward  Otter 


Amendments  made  by  General 
Burgoyne, 


>  This  extract  should  be  read  in  counoction  with  note  3  on  page  SGI  of  vol.  i. 
'  The  eniBurus  uru  printed  iu  italics,  and  the  umeudmonts  iu  the  opposite  column. 


3 
<■     ■  ■■  t- 


TO  OEN.  lilEDESEVH  VAMl'AlaX. 


261 


creek.  On  their  return,  anil  also 
receiving  intelligence  that  no  ene- 
my is  in  force  in  the  neighborhood 
of  liockiiif/ham,  (1)  you  will  pro- 
ceed by  the  road  over  tlie  moun- 
tains to  Rockingham,  where  you 
will  take  post.  This  will  be  the 
most  distant  part  on  the  expedi- 
tion. (2) 

You  are  to  remain  there  as  long 
as  meesmry  to  fulfill  tlie  intention  of 
the  eximlition  from  t/ienec,  (IJ)  and 
you  are  afterwards  to  descend  by 
the  Connecticut  river  to  Brattle- 
bury,  rind  from  that  place,  by  the 
quickest  march,  you  are  to  return 
by  the  great  road  to  Albany. 

During  your  whole  progress, 
your  detachments  arc  to  have  or- 
ders to  bring  in  to  you  all  horses 
fit  to  mount  the  dragoons  under 
your  command,  or  to  serve  as  bat 
horses  to  tlie  troops,  tfiey  are  like- 
wise  to  bring  in  (4)  saddles  and 
bridles  as  can  be  found.  (.'5) 

Your  parties  are  likewise  to 
bring  in  wagons  and  other  con- 
venient carriages,  witli  as  many 
draft  oxen  as  will  be  necessary  to 
draw  them,  and  all  cattle  fit  for 
slaugiitcr  (milch  cows  excepted), 
which  are  to  be  left  for  the  use  of 
the  inhabitants.  Regular  receipts, 
in  the  form  hereto  subjoined,  are 
to  be  given,  in  all  places  where 
any  of  the  abovementioned  articles 
are  taken,  to  such  persons  as  have 
remained  in  their  habitations,  and 
otherwise  complied  with  the  terms 
of  General  Burgoyne's  manifesto ; 
but  no  receipts  to  be  given  to  such 
as  are  known  to  be  acting  in  the 
service  of  the  rebels.  (0) 


(1)  U})on  tlw  Connecticut  river. 


(2)  Ami  must  be  proceeded  upon 
witli  caution,  as  you  will  have  tlie 
defile  of  the  mountains  behind  you, 
which  miijht  make  a  retreat  difficult; 
you  must  therefore  endeavour  to  be 
well  informed  of  the  force  of  t/ui  ene- 
my's militiii  in  tlw  neighboring 
country. 

Should  you  find  it  may  ivith pru- 
dence l>e  effected. 

(3)  ichile  t/ie  Indiiins  and  light 
troops  are  detaclied  up  tlw  river. 


(4)  together  with  as  nutny. 

(5)  Tlw  number  of  Iwrses  re- 
quisite, besides  tliose  necessary  for 
mounting  (he  regiment  of  dragoons, 
ought  to  be  I'iiOO.  If  you  can  bring 
more  for  the  use  of  the  army,  it  will 
be  so  much  tlw  better. 


(0)  As  you  will  have  with  you 


262 


OFFICIAL  DOVUMENTa  ItELATINO 


]xriioiin   pcrffdly  acqtiainkd  irith 
the  ahiliticn  of  the  eouiitry,  it  may 
jH'rhnpH  be  ddnmhle  to  tax  the  neve- 
rid  -HdrictH  with  the  jwrtioM  of  the 
tuTtiral  iirtidcH,  <iml  limit  the  houm 
for  their  delivery;  and,  should  you, 
find  it  inremiry  to  move  Ixfore  siiefi 
delivery  en  a  be  mmle,  hontnyvH  of  the 
nwHt  rvHjKCtable  people  should  l>c 
taken,  to  secure  their  folloiviny  you 
the  ensuiHf/  day.    All  jiossihle  means 
aret/jlH!  used  to  prevent  plumleriny. 
As  it  isjtrobable  that  Captain  /Sher- 
wood, who  is  already  detached  to  the 
southward  and  will  join  you  at  Ar- 
lington, tvill  drive  in  a  considerable 
quantity  of  cattle  and  horses  to  you, 
you  will  therefore  send  in  this  cattle 
to  the  army,  with  a  projyer  detach- 
ment from  Peters's   corps  to  cover 
them,  in  order  to  disencumber  your- 
self; but  you  must  always  keep  the 
regiments  of  dragoons  compact. 

The  dragoons  themselves  must 
ride,  and  Utke  care  of  the  horses  of 
th4i  regiment.  Those  horses  which 
are  destined  for  the  use  of  the  army 
must  be  tied  together  by  strings  of 
ten  each,  in  ortkr  that  one  man  may 
lead  ten  horses.  You  will  give  the 
unarmed  vien  of  Peters's  corps  to 
conduct  t/um,  and  inhaUtants  whom 
you  can  trust.  You  must  always 
take  your  camps  in  good  pm'tion; 
but  at  the  same  time  where  there  is 
jHisture  ;  and  you  must  have  a  chain 
of  sentinels  round  your  cattle  and 
horses  when  grazing. 

Colonel  Skeene  will  be  with  you 
as  much  as  pmible,  in  order  to 
assist  you  with  his  advice,  to  help 
you  to  distinguish  the  good  subjects 
from  the  b(ul,  to  procure  you  the  best 


TO  (Jk.\.  ItlKDESlCLii  CAMl'MUS: 


268 


inteUiijeiuv  of  tlu:  inemy,  and  to 
c/mm  (how  ]>eopl);  irfio  hit.  to  hiing 
me  t/ie  aecouiitH  ofyoarproyirim  and 
mccenn. 

Whta  you  find  it  neiiemtiiry  to  hidt 
for  (I  day  or  tiro,  you  muxt  idiniyH 
cntri'iifh  the  camp  of  the  reijiiiunl  of 
driiyooHii,  in  order  neatr  to  rink  iin 
attack  or  affront  from,  the.  eiu'iny. 

As  you  irill  return  with  the  nyi- 
ment  of  drayooiiH  mounted,  you 
muHt  alirayii  hare  a  Machiiienlif 
Captain  Frimer'tt  or  Peti'i-Hs  eorpn  in 
front  of  the  column,  and  the  Maine  in 
the  rear,  in  order  to  prevent  your 
falliny  into  an  amliuxcade  ithenyoii 
march  through  t/ie  wood*. 


You  will  use  nil  possible  means 
to  make  the  country  belie\e  that 
the  troops  under  your  coniinand 
are  the  advanced  corps  of  the 
army,  and  that  it  is  intended  to 
pass  the  Connecticut  on  the  road 
to  Boston.  You  will  likewise 
hmi  it  in»inuated,  (7)  that  the  main 
army  from  Albany  is  to  be  joined 
at  Sprinytteld  by  a  corps  of  troops 
from  Uhode  island. 

You  will  send  off  occammally 
cattle  or  carriar/es,  to  prevent  /winy 
too  much  incumbered;  and  will  give 
me  as  frequent  intdliyence  of  your 
situation  as  possible. 

It  is  highly  probable  tiiat  the 
corps  under  Mr.  Warni.'r,  now 
supposed  to  be  at  Manchester, 
will  retreat  before  you ;  but,  should 
they,  contrary  to  expectation,  be 
able  to  collect  in  great  force,  and 
post  themselves  advantageously, 
it  is  left  to  your  discretion  to 
attack  them  or  not;  always 
bearing  in  mind,  that  your  corps 


(7)  iimnualu, 


<■  4  !  '  '« 


r  ♦>! 


264 


OFFICIAL  DOVVSIKS'l'S  IIKLATISO 


1»  too  vnluiU)l(!  to  let  imy  consider- 
able los:4  be  bu/iinled  on  thU 
oeciiHion. 

Should  liny  eorps  be  moved  from 
Mr.  Arnold's  nniln  army,  in  order 
to  Intercept  your  retreiit,  you  iiro 
to  take  as  stronu:  a  post  as  the 
country  will  atlbrd,  and  send  the 
((uickest  intelligence  to  me ;  and 
you  may  depend  on  my  making 
Huch  a  movemttnt  as  shall  put  the 
enemy  between  two  tires,  or  other- 
wise ellectually  sustain  you. 

It  is  imagined  the  progress  ol 
the  whole  of  this  expedition  may 
be  effected  in  about  a  fortnight; 
but  every  movement  of  it  must 
depend  upon  your  success  in  ob- 
taining such  supply  of  provisions 
as  will  enable  you  to  subsist  till 
your  return  to  the  army,  in  case 
you  can  get  no  n\ore.  (8) 

All  persons  acting  in  connnit- 
tccs,  or  any  officers  acting  under 
the  directions  of  congn-ss,  either 
civil  or  military,  are  to  be  made 
jirisoners. 


(8)  And,  hIwuIiI  not  the  army  be 
(Me  to  reiich  Alluiiii/lnfore  your  w- 
jmtififni  xhould  Ik'  ronipMat,  I  will 
Jind  iiu'iins  to  mud  yon  notice  of  it, 
and  f/iir  your  route  another  direc- 
tion. 


Batten  Kim^,  Augud  13,  1777. 
Hir: 

1  had  the  honor  of  acquainting  your  excellency,  l)y  a  man  sent 
yesterday  evening  by  Colonel  Skeenc  to  head  ipiarlers,  of  the  several 
corps  under  my  command  being  encamped  at  Saratoga,  as  well  a.s  of 
my  intention  to  proceed  the  next  morning  at  live  o'clock ;  the  corps 
moved  at  that  time,  and  marched  a  mile,  when  I  received  a  letter  from 
Brigadier  General  Fraser,  signifying  your  excellency's  ordbr  to  post 
the  corps  advantageously  on  Batten  kill,  till  I  should  receive  fresh  in- 
structions from  your  exceUency  :  the  corps  is  now  encamped  at  that 
l)lace,  and  wait  your  excellency's  orders.  1  will  not  trouble  you,  sir, 
with  the  various  reports  which  spread,  as  they  seem  rather  to  be 


Hi! 


TO  (ins.  ItlKnKSEUS  CA.v/'.irn.v. 


266 


foiindi'd  on  the  (lill'erriit  Intcrcstfl  niul  feelings  of  the  people  who 
occnHioii  them. 

I  Imve  the  honor  to  he,  niosl  reHpeclfully, 

Vdiir  excellency's  most  olx'tlient 

and  hunihle  scrvitnt, 

F.  Haumk. 
The  recnforcemenl  of  Hfty  chii.sseiirM, 
which  your  excellency  was  pleased 
to  order,  Joined  me  last  ni^'ht  ut 
eleven  o'ehxik. 

General  liiirginjiit. 


LIST  OF  THOSE  OKKICEItS  (WITH  TIIKIR  KAXK  AND  DATE  OK  DEATH) 
WHO  SERVED  AS  I'AItT  Ol-'  THE  IIUINSWICK  AI'XILIAUIES  IN 
AMERICA  FROM  n70-nas. 

The  Field  Officcn  of  the  Corps. 

1.  Major  General  (commander)  Uicdesd,  Frederick  Adolplnis,  died 
Jan.  0,  1800,  as  lieutenant  general  and  commander  of  Hrunswick. 

2.  Captain  (General  (iuiirter  Master)  Gerlaeh,  Ileinricli  Jan.,  died 
Sept.  20,  1798,  as  lieutenant  cohmel  and  commander  of  the  artillery 
in  Brunswick. 

3.  Captain  O'Connel,  Laurentlus,  died  In  1810,  as  u  pensioned 
lieutenant  colonel  in  Ireland. 

4.  Lieutenant  Clcve,  Frederick  Christian,  died  Jan.  0,  1820,  as  a 
pensioned  major  general  at  Brunswick. 

5.  Keeper  of  the  military  chest,  Godeck,  Joliann  Conrad,  died  Uee. 
25th,  1782,  in  America. 

Dnif/'Htn  I{ef/iiiwnt, 

1.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Hanm,  Frederick,  wounded  in  the  hattle 
near  Bennington,  the  Kith  of  August,  1777,  ami  died  two  days  after- 
ward. 

2.  Major  Von  Maihom,  Just.  Christoph,  died  Feb.  17th,  1804,  as  a 
pensioned  major  nt  WolfeuhUttcl. 

8.  Captain  of  horse,  Schlagcnteutfel  III,  Carl,  dismissed  from  the 
service  in  1788. 

4.  Captain  of  horse,  Fricke,  Ileinrich  Christian,  died  July  !),  1808, 
as  a  pensioned  major. 

5.  Captain  of  horse,  Ueiuking,  Carl  Frederick,  killed  on  the  ICth  of 
August,  1777,  in  the  battle  near  Bennington. 


I'OO 


OFFIVIAL  noCVMKNTS  liKl.ATIffO 


0.  Ciiptaln  of  liorsc,  ScliliijfcntcutlV'l  IV  (Atlopli),  tliHmiHsod  by  ro- 
(|iU'Ht  from  Ihf  iiriny  in  ITHJt,  iih  nmjoi'. 

7.  I.iciitcnmit  llrcvii,  \\\^m\  Wllliclm,  died  tlic  lOtli  AiigtiHt,  1700, 
IIS  nipliiiii  of  tlic  invalid  coiiipiiny  iit  liliinliciiliiii'K. 

H.  Kicnii'iiant  von  SoininciiiilU',  Olio  Arnold,  licciinu'  liliiid  in  17K1, 
and  placed  on  the  prnsion  list. 

».  LiiMiltniinl  Hccknult.Cail Fiicdi-rick, dcHcrtcd from  VVolfcnbUltcl 
the  l:tlli  Anjfnwt,  17H4. 

10.  Lieutenant  von  liotlimer,  Frioderich  Wilhclm  Dietrich,  din- 
missed,  at  his  own  reiiuest,  in  17H;J,  with  the  rank  of  master  of  horse. 

It.  liieutenant  Hornemann,  August  Friedrieh  irelnrich,  dismissed 
in  178H;  entered  the  service  of  Holland,  and  died  in  India. 

12.  Cornet  (Jriife,  August  Ludwig  Lucas,  renniiiuHl  in  America  in 
178!),  liy  pc-rmissiou ;  returned  in  the  following  year  to  Germany,  and 
died  as  governor  of  Mecklenburg-Slrelitz. 

lU.  Cornet  Stut/.er,  Johann  Balthasar,  died  the  20lli  November, 
1821,  as  n  pensioned  lieutenant  colonel  in  Brunswick. 

14.  Cornet  Schbnewald,  Johann  Friedrieh,  died  the  Sth  July,  1820, 
with  the  same  rank. 

l.j.  Chaplain  Melsheimcr,  Carl,  deserted  from  his  regiment  the  Uth 
May,  1770. 

10.  Auditor  Thomas  remained,  in  1783,  by  permission  In  America. 

17.  Hegimental  Chaplain  Vorl)rodt,  pensioned  in  178!1. 

Oreiitidicr  lidltdlioi). 

1.  Lieutenant  Colonel  IJreymann,  Ileinrich  Chriatoph,  killed  the 
7lh  Oct.,  1777,  in  the  battle  of  Freenum's  farm. 

2.  Captain  IJiirtling  I,  Ernst  August,  died  Jan.  1,  170i{,  as  lieu- 
tenant colonel  and  commander  of  a  battalion  in  Maestricht. 

a.  Captain  Lblineysen,  Albrecht  Daniel,  died  May  2, 1820,  upon  his 
estate  at  Nendingen. 

4.  Captain  Schick,  Gottlob  Dietrich,  killed  August  10,  1777,  In  the 
battle  near  Bennington. 

5.  Captain  Ilambach,  August  Wilhclm,  dismissed  In  1783. 

6.  Lieutenant  Uhlig,  Ileinrich  Wilhelm,  advanced  to  a  captaincy 
and  transferred  to  a  land  regiment  in  1783. 

7.  Lieutenant  Gebhard,  Theodore  Friederich,  died  June  3, 1810,  In 
Brunswick  as  a  pensioned  lieutenant  colonel. 

8.  Lieutenant  Ilelmeckc,  August  Wilhelm,  dismissed  in  1783. 

0.  Lieutenant  Trott,  Christian  Wilhelm;  likewise  dismissed  In 
1783. 

10.  Lieutenant  Iludolphi,  Otto  Ileinrich,  died  June3, 1810,  in  Bruns- 
wick )us  a  pensioned  lieutenant  culunel. 


i 


TO  iih:\.  It/KhKsK/.'S  lAMfMllS. 


267 


It.  liicutcnimt  Wttllniodcn,  Ocliliiird  Tliidel,  Krii-dricli,  died  2d 
8»'|>t.,  1H07,  us  iimjor,  but  mil  ol  tin-  Hcrvlci-. 

12.  Liciitcimnt  Mii/.cll,  Liidwix  C'uHiiuIr,  dii>d  July  2H,  1H14,  im  u  pen- 
8lc)iK-d  colonvl  of  tlici  nivitlry  of  Ido  Hcrune  liiKlnicHH,  Prince  Ocorgt! 
nf  Hruimwlck,  iit  OliUkslnirK. 

1!).  Liciilcnaiit  Mcyi-r,  Joliitiin  AndiTiiH,  unknown. 

14.  LiiMitcniint  iMfynrn,  Jolmnn  .Iiicol),  dk'ti  July  it,  lH()2,i)Hcnptidn 
nnd  cidi'f  of  the  invnlid  eoinimny  iit  niiink('id)urji;. 

15.  Lieutenant  D'Anniei-H  II,  Curl  Frunz,  died  in  1777,  while  a 
prisoner  ut  Iknninjj;lon. 

10.  Lieutenunt    Winterschinidt,  Ootll'ried  Jul,  deserted  from  his 
Imltftllon  In  177». 
17.  LifUlc'ntmt  Hulke,  Johunn  Ciwper,  died  in  Anierleu  in  1777. 
IH.  Ueginientul  (!liupluin  Ilenkcl,  died  in  Anierieu  in  1778. 

Prince  fYiediii'h' H  lUyiment. 

1.  liicutcnnnt  Colonel  Priilorius,  Cliristiun  .lidius,  died  Ajjril  10, 
1794,  us  u  jiensioncd  lieutenunt  colonel  ut  IIol/.Tniiidcn. 

2.  Mujor  llille,  Freidricli  W'illielm,  died  Ajiril  21),  1H05,  us  u  niiOor 
generul,  and  nunied  eonunundunt  of  WolfenhUttel  near  Mrunswick. 

».  Captain  Dietrieli.  Adolpli  Lorenz,  died  March  10,  1704,  m 
lieutenunt  colonel  ut  WolfenhUttel. 

4.  Cuptuin  Tiuulerfeld,  Carl  August  lleinricli,  died  Juno  4,  1802, 
nB  chamberlain  of  Brunswick. 

5.  Captain  Sander,  Jacob  Christian,  died  March  14, 1700,  us  lieuten- 
ant colonel  ut  Wolfenbuttel. 

0.  Cuptain  Rosenberg,  Friedrich  Albrccht,  dismissed  ut  his  own 
request,  in  1788,  as  mi^or. 

7.  Captain  Zielbcrg,  George  Ernst,  died  out  of  service  at  Ilorter, 
Feb.  23,  1797,  as  captain. 

8.  Lieutenant  Schrttdcr,  Ernst  Chri-stian,  pensioned  in  178!J,  and 
died  the  same  year. 

9.  Lieutenant  Kneseheck,  Friedrich,  dismissed  in  1788. 

10.  Lieutenant  Volkmar,  Friedrich  Wilhehn,  dismissed  in  1783. 

11.  Lieutenant  Hurz,  Johunn  Friedrich,  succeeded  in  1787,  to  the 
post  of  secretary  of  the  monastic  archives. 

12.  Lieutenant  Wolgurt  I,  Joliann  Friedrich,  died  Oct.  2,  1825,  as 
a  pensioned  lieutenant  colonel  at  Brunswick. 

13.  Lieutenant  Ueitzcnstein,  Gottlieb  Christian,  remained  by  per- 
mission, in  1783,  in  America. 

14.  Lieutenant  Burghoff,  .lohann  Friedrich  Ileinrich,  disnussed  in 
1780,  in  America,  and  diiul  the  same  year. 


i 


■.^T"' 


268 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS  HELATING 


15.  Liciiteimnt  dii  Roi,  August  Willielni,  after  serving  the  house  of 
Bnmswic!.'  ("aithfully  for  over  fifty  years,  he  drowned  hhuself  in  ii  fit 
of  uu'laneholy,  Mareli  98,  1S14.  At  tlic  time  of  his  deatl)  he  was 
eouiuiissary  general,  and  liiutenant  colonel  on  the  general  staff. 

10.  l'eu»ennut  Wiesencr,  Christian  Friedrich,  discharged  in  1783. 

17.  Lieutenant  von  K«nig,  Edmund  Victor,  remained,  in  1783,  by 
permission  in  America. 

18.  Ensign  Langorjahn,  Siegfried  Heinrich,  remained,  in  1788,  by 
l)ermis8i()n  in  America. 

10.  Ensign  Adelsheim,  Carl  Friedrich  Christian,  deserted  from  his 
regiment  in  1780. 

20.  Ensign  Sternberg,  Jolmnn  Cliristian,  died  Nov.  10,  1791),  as 
secretary  of  supplies,  at  WolfenbUttel. 

21.  Ensign  Reinerding,  Carl  Wilhehn,  died  March  14,  1815,  as 
head  chamberlain  in  tlie  service  at  Ulankcnburg. 

22.  Ensign  Kobe,  Frict.'rich,  remained  by  permission,  in  America 
in  1783. 

2o.  Chaplain  FUgerer,  Friedrich  August,  dismissed  in  Oct.,  1770. 

24.  Chaplain  Schrader,  Friedrich  Wilhehn  Conrad,  .sent  in  April, 
1770,  to  America  with  the  transport  recruits;  died  Dec.  19, 1792,  as 
pastor  at  Heierstedt. 

25.  Auditor  Wolpers,  Paul  Gottfried  Franz,  'Jied  May  11, 1802,  ns 
chancery  clerk  at  WolfenbUttel. 

20.  K"gimental  Chaplain  Bernt,  Johimn  August,  died  Feb.  27, 
1807,  as  city  surgeon  at  Hol/.minden. 


licyimenl  Wuh. 

1.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Ehrenkrock,  Johanu  Guslavus,  died  March 
22,  1783,  at  Three  Rivers  in  Canada.' 

2.  Major  Lucke,  IJallhasar  IJogislaus,  died  as  a  pensioned  major. 

3  Captain  Scbtagenteulfel  L  Ludewig,  placed  on  tlic  pension  list 
in  1783,  and  ilied  the  same  year  at  Calvflrde. 

4.  Captain  Alcrs,  Conrad  Anton,  died  Oct.  17,  1810  as  major  (out 
of  the  service),  at  Brunswick. 


'  Lieutenant  Papet  II,  reroriing  to  the  deatli  of  Khreiikrm-k,  writes  In  IiIh  diary,  as 
follows :  "  Meiitoiiaiit  Von  Klirctikroek  dicil  at  Three  Hiverc  on  the  S9 of  Marcli .  178.1, 
at  eiKlit  in  the  niornin;;,  ami  wan  Itinied  at  one  o"eloek  at  noon  of  the  '471  h  of  tlio 
month,  In  the  UHiial  hnrial  plaee  of  llie  ^'arrlnon,  with  military  poniii,  ('lia|>laln 
Kohle  dellveriufj  an  exeellent  funeral  oiatlon.  The  corpsi'  wan  exposed  on  a  bed 
ofHtale  on  llie  ■J.'itli  and '.Hitli ;  and  bo  well  did  it  look  that  the  Canadiaim  llrndy 
believed  that  it  was  painted," 


TO  (1K\.  !ilt:i)ESB:L\S  UAMt'AION. 


269 


5.  Ca,,itain  Arciul,  George  Philipp,  died  Dec.  10, 180;i,iis  lieutenant 
colonel  (though  out  of  the  service),  anil  liigh  baililFat  Kl.  ISiewendc. 

6.  Captain  Cleve,  Ilelnricli  Urban,  died  Jan.  2,  18()8,  as  lieutenant 
colonel  (out  of  tiie  service),  at  8al/.gittcr. 

7.  Ci.;  '.aiu  Fredersdorff,  VVillielni  Ludwig,  wounded  Oct.  7,1777,  ia 
the  Ijattle  of  Freeman's  farm,  and  died  the  year  following  in  the  city 
of  Albany. 

8.  Lieutenant  Bodemeyer,  George,  ilied  in  1793,  at  Macslricht,  as 
captain. 

1).  Lieutenant  Papet  II,  Friedrich  Jidii'-  died  April  5,  ITiW,  aa 
captain,  at  Maestricht. 

10.  Lieutenant  Ilessler,  Curl,  discharged  In  178:$,  with  liic  rank  of 
captain. 

11.  Lieutenant  Meyer,  B^riedrich  Leopold  Engelhard,  died  Dec.  0, 

1803,  as  inspector  of  excise  at  Secfen. 

13.  Lieutenant  Bielstein,  Thedel  Wilhelin,  remained  i>y  permission 
in  America  in  1783. 

i;j.  Lieutenant  Conradi,  Carl  Friedrich,  took  his  discharge  in  1783, 
and  went  back  to  America. 

14.  Lieutenant  Dobencck,  Hans  Philipp  Ileinricli,  died  in  179(1,  as 
captain  of  a  land  regiment  ut  Ilol/.minden. 

15.  Lieutenant  Petersen,  Carl  Ludwig,  died  May  7, 1814,  as  a  civil 
magistrate. 

10.  Lieutenant  Modrach,  Christian  Ileinricli,  died  Aug.  18, 1803,  as 
captain  of  a  land  regiment  at  Uevern. 

17.  Lieutenant  Unger  I,  Johann  Ludwig,  died  May  3,  180.j,ascouri- 
sellor  of  mines  at  Sal/.liebeidiallc. 

18.  Lieutenant  Feichel,  Friedrich  W'illnlni,  died  May  39,  17!M,  at 
Brimsrtick,  as  captain. 

19.  Ensign  liandel,  Friedrich,  deserted  from  his  rcginu'iil  in  1779. 

30.  Ensign  Erich,  Hcrnhard,  received  his  discharge  in  1783. 

31.  Ensign  li.  Ic,  .,'ohaini  Friedrich,  died  Sept.  19,  ITH3,  at- Stade, 
while  on  his  retui  '  from  .\nierica. 

33.  F'/iisii^n  (.JiVleckc,  .lohaiin  Ileinricli,  triiiisferrcd  to  a  regiment 
of  th'  'ill'  in  1788. 

33.  Cna,)l:iiii  Tiigel,  Christian  Timotheus,  died  Oct.  1,  1797,  as 
j)asior  at  Greiit  TwUlpsledl. 

24.  Auditor  Schmiilt,  transferred  in  1783  to  the  regiment  Iliedesel. 

35.  Hegimental  Chaplain  HchriKler,  Joliunn  Friedrich,  died  Dee.  10, 

1804,  at  Hrunswick. 


270 


OFFICIAL  UOVUUFNTS  UKLATINO 


Ihijittwnt  Itmkucl. 

1.  Lk'Utenunt  Colonel  Si)clli,  P>nsl  Liuluwig  Willielin,  tlioil  Oct. 
27,  1800,  as  nmjor  gciural  and  coniniaiulant  at  WollenbtUtfl. 

2.  Major  Mt'iigcn,  Otto  Carl  Anton,  ilud  May  IK,  17'.t7,  as  lieutL'n- 
nnt  coloiu'l  (out  of  servlcf),  at  Llinfhuru;. 

'A.  Captain  PttUnit/.,  Julius  LuiUvig  August,  died  Miircli  3!),  1805,  us 
major  general  anil  cninniandant  at  WoU'enltiitlel. 

4.  Captain  Morgenstern,  Carl  Friedricli,  received  his  diHcliurge  iw 
major  in  17 — . 

.1.  Captain  Hartling  II,  Carl  Friedricli,  died  in  17H;J,  at  Miinster 
while  on  his  return  journey  to  IJrunswick. 

«.  Captain  liarbord,  Golllieh  IJenjamin,  died  as  a  pensioned  cap- 
tain in  . 

7.  Captain  (iii-sewald,  Ernst  Ileinrieli  Willielni,  died  .Ian.  Hi,  1818, 
in  time  of  pi  ace  as  a  major  general  at  Hrunswiek. 

8.  Lieutenant  Hover,  Willielm,  died  in  1TS2,  in  America. 

)>.  Lieutenant  Morgenstern,  .Johann  Carl,  died  Dec.  8,  1787,  at 
Brunswick  as  captain. 

10.  liieutenanl  Ueinking,  Fri<'drich  Car'.,  died  as  captain  of  a 
regiment  of  the  line. 

11.  Lieutenant  HurgdorlV,  Ludwig  Traugoll,  dismissed  in  1780. 

12.  I/ieutenant  Wolgart  li,  August  Theodore  Gottfried,  died 
Mar('h  4,  1821,  as  a  pensioned  major  at  Hrunswiek. 

111.  Lieutenant  Freyenliagen,  Ileinrieli  .lulius,  died  in  1777,  in 
America. 

14.  Lieutenant  Pincier,  Christian  Theodore,  received  his  discharge 
in  1784,  and  reliirned  to  America. 

l.TI.  Lieutenant  Cramm,  Heiurich  Willielm  (iottfried,  died  Feb.  8, 
1704,  at  Mastricht. 

10.  Lieutenant  Meyern,  Ludwig  <!ottliel>,  died  1781,  in  America. 

17.  Ensign  Hrandir,  Knist  Christian  Ileinrieli,  dismissed  in  1780. 

IN.  Ensign  I'liver/agt,  Ludwig, died  in  1770,  in  America. 

1!(.  Ensign  Maibom,  (!arl  Cliristoiili,  died  .\pril  20,  171(4,  ii|)on 
his  return  journey  from  Miistricht  to  llol/miudcn. 

20.  Ensign  Iliiberlin,  Haimnnd  Gottlieb,  died  Oct.  0,  17»fl,  atllelm- 
sledt  as  caiitain. 

21.  En.Hign  Andree,  Carl  Conrad,  died  as  a  lieutenant  of  a  regi- 
ment of  the  line  in . 

32.  Knsigii  Denecke,  Friedricli  Ludwig,  unknown.' 

2;t.  Eii.sign  Forslner,  ileinrieli  Friedricli,  dismissed  in  1704. 

'  Dr.  (»'('iillii;;hnii,  in  /luri/oi/ne'K  firiterlij  Uooli:,MaU:iit\ti\l  lliic  nlllrci  wax.  In  1T78, 
rexliling  III  WcKliiilnHler.      I'luiuUiilor. 


yW  OES.  lltlSlHtHtlVii  t'AMPAIHS. 


•271 


21.  Cliapliiin  MiliuK-,  Jolmnii  Aiij,'iinl,  ilii-d  Jan.  17,  1810,  us  pnslor 
lit  Siililcr. 

25.  Gciicnil  Field  Auditor  Zinkcn,  Curl  Fricdricli  Williclni,  died  in 
lliL'  ni;;iit  of  Aii;;iisl  :j,  IWOO,  us  iiuli>'  ('oiiiiscllDr  and  mayor  ol  Sccl'cii. 

20.  Hfgiiiiuiilal  Cliapluiii  I'rallc,  died  as  land  surgeon  at  .Icrrlieiin. 


Metjiment  S/nrfif. 

1.  Colonel  Specht,  Joiiann  Friedrieli,  died  Juno  34,  1787,  ill  IJruns- 
wick  118  a  jjensioned  colonel. 

2.  Major  Elirenkrock,  Curl  Fricdrieli,  died  July  17,  17U7,  as  u  pji:- 
sioiied  major  in  Hrunswick. 

:t.  Ciii)iain  Plessen,  Leopold  Franz  Fricdrieli  Hallliasar,  died  Fc"). 
0,  18()S,  as  captain  (out  of  the  service),  at  (tandersiieim. 

4.  Ca|)lain  Lut/.uw,  August  Conrad,  died  Nov.  20,  171)U,  at  Driins- 
wick  as  colonel. 

5.  Captain  I)alil.-*rnna,  IJernliard  Uieli.,  wounded  on  the  7tli  Oct., 
1777,  lit  tlH!  Iialtle  of  Freeman'-  farm,  and  died  tlie  following;  year  in 
the  city  of  All)any. 

0.  Captain  v(m  SclilagenteuU'el  I',  George,  died  August  l.*),  1818,  a« 
higli  hailitfat  Scliftppenstedt. 

7.  Captain  Yaner,  Heinricli,  died  in  1782,  in  America. 

8.  LieiitcMant  Meyer,  Joliann  Heinricli,  died  Oct.  23, 1800,  as  post 
miiMler  of  Helmsledt. 

it.  LieulenanI  Ilerlel,  Daniel  Arnold,  died  Au:?ust  1,  17lMi,  as  a 
pensioned  lieutenant  at  Ki'inijj.slutle. 

10.  i.ieutenani  I'apet  I,  August  Wilhelm.  dieil  July  2.'»,  1H08,  at 
IJrnnswick  as  colonel. 

II  Lieutenant  l)ov( ,  Heinricli  Anton  David,  died  in  1780,  in 
America. 

12.  Lieiitenaiil  Milkati,  Ciirislian  i'riedricli.ili.Hcliar^ed  in  178;i. 

i:t.  liii'utenaiil  Oldekopf,  Friedrii'li  Kriisi,  created  .-iccretary  in  llic 
post  ol!'..  e  III  17H4,  and  died  while  holdinu:  that  position. 

14.  Lieuteniinl  Anniers  !,  Heinricli  Daniel,  discharged  in  178:1. 

{!}.  Lieutenant  iveilner,  Joliann  Fricdrieli  Julius,  died  Novemlier 
30, 180H,  as  commissioner  of  a  inonaslery  at  llnins'A  ick. 

Kt.  Lieutenant  Itoi  II,  Antoi  .Adolph  Henirich,  died  August  ID, 
1823,  at  Brunswick,  as  a  |)ensioned  colonel. 

17.  Liculinaiil  Unger  II,  Fricdrieli  11(h1o,  died  Nov.  11,  1810,  as  a 
iiiagislrale  of  Siil/.gilter. 

18.  Knsigii  lleiiicwil/.,  .lohaiiii  Heinricli  Carl,  died  Dec.  13,  I82L  iw 
liciiti'iianl  p'lieral  and  commandant  of  Itriinswick. 

10.  Kn.Hign  Ucdckcn,  Fricdrieli,  died  in  1777,  in  Atuerlca. 


272 


OFFICIAL   DOCUMENTS  UELATWO 


20.  EiiHigii  Froniine,  Johimn  Edmund,  died  Mny  8,  1822,  at  Wolf- 
cnbiittd,  as  a  pensioned  major. 

21.  Ensign  Ulmenslein,  Samuel  Jacob  Anton,  died  July  9,  1793,  a 
pensioned  lieutenant. 

32.  Ensign  Giimpe,  died  as  collector  of  the  public  gates  of  Bruns- 
wick. 
28.  Clmplain  Kohle,  unknown. 

24.  Chaplain  Mtinchhofi",  unknown. 

25.  Auditor  Bfihr,  unknown. 

20.  Regimental  Chaplain  Manse,  Joliann  Carl,  died  Dec.  15, 1814,  at 
Brunswick,  as  general  field  surgeon,  out  of  service. 


Y&ger  BatUdion,  knoicn  also  us  the  BatUdion  Burner. 

1.  Major  Earner,  Fc.dinand  Albrccht,  died  Oct.  2, 1797,  as  a  pen- 
sioned colonel. 

2.  Captai'i  Tiiomii,  George  Ludewig,  died  Jan.  10, 1800,  at  Wolfeu- 
bOttel,  as  captain,  out  of  service. 

3.  Captain  Gcyso,  Carl,  discharged  in  1783,  as  major. 

4.  Captain  Donnnes,  August  Friedrich,  died  in  the  night  of  Jan.  5, 
1802,  as  chief  commissary  at  Blankenbnrg. 

5.  Captain  Schottelius,  Maximilian  Christoph  Ludwig,  died  Dec.  3, 
1807,  as  post  master  at  Holzminden. 

0.  Captain  Gleissenberg,  Gottlief  Joachim,  died  Feb.  20,  1801,  as 
colonel  and  commandant  at  WolfenbUttel. 

7.  Lieutenant  Ilamiemanu,  Johann  Caspar,  died  as  an  oflicer  of 
the  forest.' 

8.  Lieutenant  Cruse,  Philipp  Sigcsmund,  died  as  captain  in  the 
line. 

9.  Lieutenant  Kottc,  Johann  Gottfried, died  in  1770,  at  Quebec. 

10.  Lieutenant  Kabe,  Albrccht  Christian,  died  Oct.  18,  1800,  as  a 
lieutenant  at  KonigsluMer,  out  of  service. 

11.  Lieutenant  Uladen,  Johann  Gottlieb,  died  Dec.  14, 1827,  at  Wolf- 
enbUttel as  a  i)ensi()ned  major. 

12.  Lieutenant  Miililenfeldt,  Carl  Anton  Ludwig,  killed  Aug.  10, 
1777,  in  the  engagement  near  Bennington. 

13.  Lieutenant  Ptliiger,  Johann  Friedrich,  died  in  1777,  in  America. 

14.  Lieutenant   Meyer,  Ardreas,  died  Dee.  7,  1795,  at  tiie  ducal 
castle  at  8al/.dahlum. 

l.l   Lieutenant  Frieke,  George  Friedrich  Gebhard,  died  Nov.  19, 
1807,  aa  postmaster  at  Goslar.  , 


'  I.  0.,  n  ranger.—  JYun-dator. 


TO  OEN.  lilKDESEVS  VA  if  PAWN. 


m 


1(1.  Lieutenant  Bode,  Johann  Andreas,  killed  the  7tli  Oct.,  1777,  in 
the  hattle  of  Freeman's  farm. 

17.  Lieutenant  Rohr,  Caspar  Friedrich,  discharged  in  1783. 

18.  Ensign  Uhenhis,  Wilhelm  Lucas,  died  Sent.  30, 178;i,atDrans- 
stedt,  on  his  return  home  from  America. 

19.  Ensign  Specht,  Johann  Julius  Anton,  remained  by  pernuasion 
in  America,  in  1783. 

20.  Ensign  Begert,  Joliann,  drowned  in  1777,  in  Anierica. 

81.  Ensign  Hagemann,  George  Leopold,  killed  August  10, 1777,  in 
the  engagement  near  Bennington. 

"2.  Ensign  Count  von  Kant/au,  Ernst  August,  drowned  in  the 
Schoolkil,  while  in  captivtiy. 

23.  Regimental  Chaplain  Kunze,  died  as  a  pcnsirncr. 


FINIfe. 


I\. 


INDEX. 


AlMmnkis,  50. 

Ackland,  Lady  Harriot,  168. 

Ackland,  Maj.,  108,  205. 

AdclHlnMin,  Carl  F.  C,  ii,  208. 

i1*]noimH,  102. 

An)any,  83  ;  ii,  lf)5,  100. 

Ah^rH,  Connid  A.,  ii,  208. 

Aiiiclin^Hhauw'n,  lil. 

AinhcrHt,  dlcn.,  84,  ii,  108. 

AinicrH,  Lt.,  IIW. 

AinHtrutlior  Col.,  120,  l!J8. 

Andrcts  Carl  ('.,  ii,  270. 

Andni.  Maj.,   ii,  8«,  200. 

Aline,  Fort,  110, 122,  246  ;  dcwrip- 

tion  of,  2(.'5 
Anni((r»,  Carl  P.  D.,  ii,  207. 
Anniers,  Ilcinricli  I).,  ii,  271. 
Arbnthnot,  Adiiurnl,  ii,  208. 
Arend,  (Jj-o.  P.,  ii,  200. 
Ariiiand,  a  Fnuich  adventurer,  ii, 

18. 
Arnold.  Gen.,  48,  71,  80,  125,  lao, 

105,  238,  251 ;  ii,  210. 

Bnortling,  Capt.  Von,  ii,  47. 

Bahr.  Auditor,  ii,  272. 

Baker's  falln,  238. 

Baike,  Johaun  C,  ii,  207. 

BalcarruH,  Lord,  103,  206. 

Baltimore,  85. 

Bancroft,  (leoryt-,  85. 

Bandel,  Friedridi,  ii.  200. 

Barlow,  Lt.  Col.,  220, 

Barner,    Lt.  Col,  28,  131  ;    ii,  110, 

114,  183;  ii,272. 
Barner,  rejjrinient  of,  122,  230, 
Barnes,  Cairt,,  ii,  138, 
Bartlinjr,  KruHt  A.,  ii,  200. 
Biirtiin^f,  Curl  F.,  ii,  270. 
Bateaux,  concealtnl,  2H5 
Battenkil,  128,  132,  l(i2,  170. 

35* 


Baum,  Lt.  Col.,  28.   126,  120,  248; 

ii,  265. 
Bauni,  rejtinient  of,  ii,  81. 
B»iune,  Joliann  C.,  ii,  272. 
Be^^ert,  Johann,  ii,  273. 
B«!ll,  Ca|)t..40. 
B.lleville,  47,  57. 
IM.M^il,  81  ;  ii,  137. 
Beniin's  liei^htH.  165,  300. 
Beni|)ai])  creek,  ii,  01. 
Benipaip  Ilunnert,  ii,  01. 
B<'nnin(^on,  battle  near,  127,  250, 

258,  200. 
Berkenhut,  Dr.,  ii.  41. 
Bt-rnewitz,  Johann  11.  C.,ii.  271. 
Btrrnt,  Jolmnn  A.,  ii,  208. 
Berthier,  ii,  103. 
Bethltdieni,  Pa.,  ii,60;  descri))ti(>n 

of,  ii,  75,  240. 
BielHteiu,  Tin-did  W.,  ii,  200. 
Biesenrotli,  Maj.,  207. 
BiHclihausen,  <"<d.  Von,  207, 
Bland,  <  Jen,,  ii,  76,  242. 
Bl(M-k,  Lt.  Col.,  206,  207. 
Blonde,  frigate,  30,  41. 
Blooniiield,  Major,  147, 
B<Kle,  .lolmnn  A,  ii,273, 
B<Kle,  Jolmnn  F.,  ii,  201). 
B<Kleniever,  (leorjje,  ii,  200. 
Boerd.  Lt,.  135. 
Borbeck.  Lt.  Col.  Von,  207. 
Borke,  Col,  Von,  207  ;  ii,  248. 
Borke.  Maj.,  207. 

Borneiuann,  Auifust  F,  II,,  ii.  266. 
Howe,  Cul,  Von,  207. 
Borte,  .Mnj.  (i.Mi.,  ii,  208, 
Boston,  210,  221  :  ii,  13. 
Botlinier,   Kriedericli   VV.    1>.  Von, 

ii,  200, 
B<)u<|uet  river,  108, 
Brand,  r,  Krnst  C,  H.,  ii,  270. 


f<; 


IXDKX. 


Briuulywiiic  rivtT,  ii.  .*)». 
Hriiiit,'.l(>Hci)li,  1)1. 
Hrctlmucr,  l.t.  CoL/i!!?. 
Brfvii,  lit.  A.  \V..  ii,  41.2««. 
Hrcviiiunii,  lit.  Col.  Ilcinricli  ('.,2(1, 

'74.  urn,  111.  ii:i,  i:ti  ;<h-atu 
of.  1(15.  2:m ;  ii,  2<Mt. 

nriclHtndt,  III.. 

Hr.M)kfi.'l(l,  ii,  50. 

Hr(K.klyii,  S5  ;  ii,  8ft. 

Hrnwn!  Lt.,  ii,  211,  ;t5. 

Hrowiic,  Ciipl..  ii.  2;Ht. 

Hrowiic,  Mnj.,  ii.  7ft. 

iinulfiici,  ('liii|ilaiii,  Klft. 

Hniiwwick,  city  of,  2H. 

Hninwwifk,  Diikc  of,  ii,  !«t. 

Hucim  Vi'iituni,  40, 

Hunan,  Col.  Von,  207. 

Burjrilorrt",  hudwi^  '!'.,  ii,  270. 

Huixliotr,  .lolmnii  F.  II..  ii,  207. 

Hiir>fovni',  (l.iicml,  :«»,  44,  57,  (W, 
«((,  KHI,  122,  124,  liJS,  14:1,154, 
175;  mirrcmliT  ol,  IHH,  202, 
22ft,  2;H),  2;{7,  245,  280,201  :  ii, 
4;  (IcpaitH  for  Kn>{iau(l,  14, 
«8.  107,  "VMS. 

("alaiK,;«t. 

('aniarar<ka,  ii,  110,  125. 
('ainl)ri(l>r<'.  MuxH,  21(1;  ii,  11,  48, 

5(1,  2:{8. 
Camliridjirc,  N.  Y.,  240. 
Cainilcn.  ii,  104. 
('aniplM-il.  ("apt.,  ii,  48,  152. 
('aMi))l>i-II,()cii..  ii,  120. 
Canipbi'll,  Lt.Col.,  ii,  110. 
(■anipi)cll,  Maj..  144. 
Carillon,   Fort   ('I'icondiTojra). 

111.    2!18 ;  dcM-nption   ol 

1777.  20:t. 
Carli'ton,  Cajit.,  (15. 
Caritton.  Col.,  ii.  114,  i:iO. 
Carlitoii,   Oi'u.,   41.    47,    54, 

7.'»,  80.  H2.  88,  2;iO,  242, 

ii,  4:i,  I0:i,  120.  i:ift,  141 

107,  220. 
Carli-ton  island,  ii,  100. 
Carlt'ton,  Lt.  Col.,  110. 
CarlrtoM.  Maj..  40. 
Carlitiif.  ConiiniK-^ioin'r.  ii,  25,  40 
Castlcton  rivi'r,  1 18. 
Castli'ton.  town  of.  I  l:i. 
Crri's.  ship,  IN 


02, 


280  ; 
140. 


ClniiiilM^rH,  ('apt.,  ii,  110. 
('lianilxTs.  CoiiiniiHlor<>.  ii.  llll. 
Chuinblv,  Fort,  45,  40,  54.  57,  102, 

2:15; 
CImiiililv  rivrr  (Uichclifu),  75 ;  ii, 

10ft",  lltft. 
Cluiniplain.  I,ak<',  4:1,  45,  4ft,  5ft, 

78,  ft7,  125;  ii,  110,  157,251. 
ClinrlfH,  Dukf  of  lirunHwick,  2(1, 

20,  :m. 

Charli'H  FnmciH  Fi-rdinund,  Duke 
of  KmuMwick  and  LUncliiir)f, 
ii,  78,  88,  185,  102. 

Chnrli'H  William  Ferdinand,  Ilcrt!- 
ditarv   Duke    of    HrunHwick, 

2:i;i  ■ 

CliarlcHton,  S.  ('.,  ii,  88. 

CliarlottcHvillc,  Va..  ii,  45. 

Chateau  (lay  (('hataui|ue),  ii,  ll:i. 

Chininev  |)oint  (on  I<ake  Cluim- 
plnin)  10ft. 

ChriHtie.  I.t.  Col.,  4ft. 

Clark,  Adj.  Frank,  74. 

Clark,  CoinmisHarv  Oeneral,  ii,  42. 

Clark,  Maj.  (len.,  "ii,  110,  121. 

ClauH,  Col.  Daniel  (nephew  and 
son-in-law  of  Sir.  VVni.  John- 
son), ii,  110. 

Clavi>-a<',  ii,  120. 

Ch've,  raptain  and  adjutant  to 
(Ji-n.  Hiedesel,  ;14,  4(1,  102  ;  ii, 
70.84,03,  151,20'2, '205. 

Cli've,  ('apt.  Ileinrieli  I'rhan,  ii. 
212,  '200. 

Clinton.  Sir  Henrv.  44.  87.  I'.'O, 
154,  102,  107;'ji,  ;n,  :I4,  4:J, 
5;{,  (to,  8((,  ftl.Oft:  takes  leave 
of  Hii'(h-sel,  KKl,  111,  181,  180, 
2!12,  24:1. 

(  '<mI,  Cape,  '227. 

Cohoes  falls,  1:I7. 

Colle,  Va.,  ii,7t,84. 

Colle,  Hiviere  la,  (HI ;  ii,  144. 

Coneniac.  Old  Town,  ii,  25:i. 

Connecticut  river.  120. 

Connecticut,  state  of,  description 
1)V  Oeneral  Hiedesel,  ii,  .55. 

Conradi,  Carl  F.,  ii, '200. 

Conwav,  (Ji'ii.,  ii,  181. 

Coriiwallis,  (ien.,  87;  ii,  80,  l(M», 
115,  10:i,  2(Kt,  2:i5,  248. 

Coleau  de  hue.  ii.  i;t:t. 

Couderes,  54. 


jyfigx 


•477 


OuiiiiT.  lit.  Col.,  ii,  151. 
i'nuiiiii,  llriiiricli  \V.  ().,  ii,  370. 
< 'niton  river,  ii,  iur>. 
Crown  iHiiiil,  57,  73,  UM,  108;   ii, 

13:l. 
CruHc,  IMiiiippS.,  ii,  373. 
CunilM-rlivhil  IicikI,  UK). 
Cuinniin^Hkil,  143. 

UlUTCH,  Cujit.,  7-1. 

Diililslirnii,  Hfmhunl  H.,  ii,  371. 

Diilryniplf,  CoiiiiinMlori',  337. 

Diiirynipli',  Cupt.,;)!). 

Daiiicr,  hi.,  ii,  344. 

D'Annicrn,  l.t.,  17i(. 

Dcchlow,  Maj.  Von.  3i»7. 

D'Kfttuinjr,  Count,  ii.  ;{4,  ;17,  187. 

Di'lawarc  river,  8(1,  137. 

Deiieelie,  Frie(iri<!li  Ii.,  ii,  370. 

I>enkirH,  or  Anna  Hapfittt,  !i,  (d. 

Diamond  inland  (lake<leor)je),  i;J4. 

Dietrieli,  Ad<dpli  h.,  ii,  307. 

|)(.liene(k,  IlanH  P.  H..  ii,3(ll». 

DonmieH,  AuyuHt  V.,  ii,  373. 

Donop,  Col.,  8(t. 

Ooiiart'H  houMe,  13lt,  1:18. 

l>ou>rlasH,  Admiral,  ;i8. 

DoiijrIiiHH.  Maj.,  ii,  50. 

Dov.',  lleinri.'h  A.  I).,  ii,37l. 

Dove,  lit.,  ii,  80. 

Dovenet,  ht.,  ii,  133. 

Dover.  1(5. 

DovoyatV  lioilHe.  111. 

Dra^r,«,n  rejfinient,  133,  3iJ0;ii,81, 
|:J8. 

Dunmore,  Lord.  341. 

Dwljflit,  TliiMMJore,  letter  of,  to 
traiiHlator  in  relation  to  tlie 
lialtle  of  HenniiiKlon,  3!M). 

Dyk.  ('apt.  Casteii,  ii,  1 1;(. 

Kast  Spring,  315. 

Kden.  ComniiHrtioner.  ii,  35,  40.        i 
I'iilmonHton,  ('apt.,  :I0,  IKi.  ' 

Kdwar<l,  Fort,  133,  i;J8,  301.  I 

Ehrenkr.K)k,  Col.,38,  83,  100,  310; 

ii.  110.  18;t,  3((8. 
Klirenkrook,  Maj.,  ii,37l. 
Kli/alietlitown,  ii,  77. 
Klstorf,  Col.,  :(3. 
I'^rieh,  Heridiard.  ii,  3('»!l. 
Krie,  Lake,  ii,  l|0,  350, 


Faueil.  Col.,  William.  3:),  M. 

Fav,  lit.,  7;i. 

Feiehel,  Friedricli  VV.,  ii,  3(H». 

Ferdinand,  Duke.  ;iO,  4:1,  45,  (11. 
8:(.  03. 

Ferr e,  <J.  H.  de,  I'rivv  Coiineil 

li»r,  ;15  ;  ii,  30:(. 

FiHiikill  (outlet  of  Saratoga  lake), 
i;(1t.  170,  180,300. 

FiHlikill(onthellu(Uin),  ii,5:i,  3:i:i. 

Florida,  N.  V.,  ii,  58. 

ForlM'H,  Ca]>t.,  ii.  111. 

ForHlner,  Ileinricli  F.,  ii,  370. 

Foiapiier  Court  lloune,  ii,  (13. 

FoHter,  Major,  1(14. 

Foy,  Capt.,;{4. 

Francix,  Hri;^.  (leii.,  1 1(1. 

Frankfort.  .lO. 

Fvanklin.  Menjamin,  ii,  143. 

Franer,  Capt.,'(t8,  70,  83,  111,  1««. 

Frawr,  (i.-n.,  4(i,' 5(t,  (d,  («(,  108; 
oceupieH  Carillon,  ll;{,  13;t, 
137;  deatli  of,  104  ;  hnrial  of, 
Ht8;  character  of,  an  drawn 
liy  Mr.  Bancroft,  1(18, 344, 340. 

Frederick  Second,  37. 

Frederick  Hprinjr,  ii,  70. 

Frederndorf,  ('apt.,  14(1,  ii,  3(H». 

Freeman,  ('apt.,  ii,  150. 

Freeman  farm,  tirwt  hat  tie  of,  140. 

Freeiium  farm,  secon<l  battle  of 
(generally  known  as  the  Mat 

tie  of  Memin's  liei"r||lH).   I(i3. 

Freenuui    farm,  camp  of  (General 

Huruoyne  at  107. 
Freeman,  Lt.,  ii,  70. 
Freyenlmjren,  Ileinricli  J.,  ii,  370. 
Friliiirjr,  ;14. 
Fricke.  Capt.of  Horse,  :14  ;  ii,  4,41, 

3(15. 
Fricke,  (ieor«e  F.  ().,  ii,  373. 
Fronime,  .lohann  F.,  ii,  373. 
FiidiK.  .Maj.  Von.  3!l(i. 
Fujferer,  Friedricli  A.,  ii,  308. 

(lajfc.  Chateau,  75. 

(hijre.    Fort,  dewription  in    1777, 

3!)(;. 
(Jajfc.  den.,  17,  ;{5,  4;J.  331. 
Oall.  Hriy.  (Jell.  Von.  ii.  0,  53,01. 

315. 
(Jail,  Col.    Von,   :(!(.  175,  310;  ii, 

101,  3IS. 


iL 


27H 


IMtKX. 


(liinlciiHliciin,  iCt. 

<liiM|if,  ('u|»«',  40. 

UutiH,<a<'n.  Iloratiii,  7»,  i:t5.  15((, 

17;{;    nHM'ivcH  tln'    Hwonl   <>f 

Oiii.  Hiirifoyno,  IHl),  11)7.  211), 

221) :  ii.  4,  10,51,511,  iM.fM. 
(i<l>liunl.  lit.,  l:t5;  ii,  4.  41,  200. 
Ot-ddtM,  l'uyiimHttr<*<'n..ii,  43,  00. 
Oforjri',  Fort   1!J5,  174  ;  cU-M-rlptioit 

<>»,ln  1777.205;  ii,  251. 
<JiH)rK<',  \Mkt>,  124,  201. 
(ji-iHiiii,  ('n|it.,  ii,  4. 
(l.i»iimr,('u|)t.  Von,  ii.  70.  87,20!l, 

215. 
(Jfrln4-li,('u|)t.,nn(l(|iiartcr  iiiuxtiT. 

84,  NJi,  1H2 :  ii,  m,  100,  Hit, 

204,  21«.  205. 
Ucniuiiii,   Ii<ir<l    (JcorKc,  21!);   ii, 

!U,125,  108. 
(Ji'.VHo,  Curl,  ii,  272. 
(Jiliraltar,  ii,  155.* 

<rirtiii>rnt'.  ao. 

OirHt.wald.  KriiHt  H.  W.,  ii.  270. 

(ilathii,  Jolmnn  (i.,  ii,  272. 

UlciHHfiilMTK,  (lottli-itM.,  ii,  272. 

Ulov.T,»l<-n.,  137,  101.210. 

U10ol(Htmlt,:iO. 

UiNlccki',  Joliann  II.,  ii,  40. 

UoiltTlK',  I'ayniiiHtitr  <il«'ii..  228,  ii, 

40,  i:J2,  2(»5. 
Uonloii.  Hri^.  Ocii..  50.  58,  244. 
Oonloii  liouHe,  12)).  124. 
down,  Col.  Von.  207. 
(loH)it'n  town,  ii,  58. 
(Jowi'li,  47. 

Onioi,  ('(Mint  Von.  liJ5;  ii,  120. 
Omfc.  AuffimtL.  L..  ii.  200. 
(Irnnil  iHland,  45, 
<JniHH<-,  Count  (Ir,  ii.  111. 
(JmvcH,  Admiral,  ii,  104,  205. 
«lruy,  Cii|)t.,  103,202. 
(Ircat  liurrin^ton,  214. 
(lr<'('ni',(Jfn.  Natlianid,  ii,  115,104. 
(Irt'cni^  island.  41. 
UMff.  Maj.,  207. 
(In^nadicr  rfjrinu'nt,  ii,81. 
(In-y'H  liouw,  215. 
drimiH',  KnwiKn,  ii,  151.  272. 
Ouilt'ord.  ii,  115. 

lliilH'rIin.  itainiinid  ().,  ii,  270. 
Ihu  kcnlMT)?.  Col.  Von,  200. 
Iltu'kcnHuc'k  riviT.  ii,  233. 


IlarkcltV  town,  ii,  50. 
Ila^i-nnann,  Kntti^n,  1:15;  ii,  273. 
Ilaldinmnd.  <i<>n..  ii,  43,  85,   108, 

110.  117,   124.   125,  13U,  130, 

143,  153,  UKl  213,  247. 
Half  MiKtn   (the  prcwnt  town  of 

Cn-wcnf.  N.  Y.),  125.  230. 
Halifax.  43;  ii.  107,  142. 
HallcrHtailt,  43. 
HanilMK-h,  AutfiiHt  VV.,  ii,  2(W). 
Hamilton,    HriK-  <<•'"..    144,  175, 

108,  230 ;  ii,  JK),  5(»,  07,  210, 

244. 
Ilamiltim.  Col.,  50. 
Hancork,  UoviTnor  John,  220  ;  ii, 

:w. 

Hanni-maim,  Johann  C.  ii,  273. 
liarUinl,  (iotli.'l)  U.,  ii,270. 
Harburff,  31. 
Hartly,  Col.,  ii,  23. 
Harnach,  Maj„  211. 
HartfonI,  24,  120. 
Hartford,  New,  ii,  51. 
Hans.  Joliann  F.  ii.  207. 
HaukcnliUttol,  30,  31. 
HauHtcin,  Maj.  V(m,  200,  207. 
Hawlcv,  Col.,"  ii,  0,  11,  13. 
Hcath,'(<rn.,210,310;  ii.  5. 11.  10, 

24.  27.  33.  42.  45.  48,  50. 
Hf<'rin>j«'n,  Col.  Von,  207. 
H<imH,  Lt.  Col.  207. 
Hi-I(r<>land,37. 

H.-lniwkc.  Auffust  W.,  ii.  200. 
Himkid.  Chaplain,  ii,  207. 
Ht'njft'n'H  n)ad.  ii,  143. 
HcrrenhUttcrH  (MoravianH),  00. 
Hi-rntal,  Lt..  ii,  200. 
Hi'rtd,  DaniH  A.,  ii,271. 
Hl'hm-  Hanau  Artill<-ry  lif^ini^nt, 

00;  ii,  73.  113. 
ilcHi**-  Hanau  Infantry   Ki^^inient, 

231  ;  ii,  73. 
HciwianH,  80. 

H<-Ht*ia,  ljiin<l)fravi!  of,  235. 
llcwdfr,  C\irt,  ii,  200. 
llcuwh,  ('apt.,  34,  30. 
Hild)-I>randt,  Maj..  '207. 
Hill.  Col.,  118. 
Hill,  l.t.  Col.,  ii.  40,  08,  110. 
Hill.-,  l-l.Col..  ii.  1H3.  rid?. 
Hill<T.  Maj.  Von,  i'^ 
Hinthc,  Maj.,  207. 
Holland,  Maj..  ii,  100. 


1 


ISDKX. 


*m 


i 


Horn,  Col.  Voii,  'J))?. 

IIinmI,  AdiiilrnI,  ii.  11)5. 

n<>o|N>,  Col.,  ii,  1(H). 

II.Mmic  river.  I'JH. 

llo|)kiiiH.  Maj..  ii,  2:iS. 

Ilorliorn*-,  Col.  (proluiblyOHlHtriic). 

u:i. 

Hotel  Dieii,  57. 

llowartl.  den.,  ii,  IHl. 

lloiittntonic  river,  ii,  52. 

Howe.   A.lininil,  311) ;  ii,   10,  37. 

155,  2;J7. 
Howe,  (Jen.,  4!J,  57,  8(1,  1)4,   125, 

15l,2:)4:  ii,4.  1(1,  tIM). 
Hover,  Wilh'lm,  ii,  270. 
Hiibtmnltown,  battli;  of,  llii. 
HiiroiiH,  50. 
HiiMuir,  t'ri)fat<*.  i>.  120. 
Huyiie,  Col.  Von,  207. 

Ind«;iH!ndence,  Fort,  (lit  jnnction  of 

IiukeHOeorffe  and  Cliuniplain, 

112,204. 
Tniiexible,  ship,  01  :  ii,  llii. 
Irvine,  (Jen.  William,  ii,  140. 
Isle  Aux  Noix  (iHland  of  NuIh),  5, 

80,  00,  00.  245;  ii,  UU,  144, 

150. 
iHle  La  Va'eur,  70. 
Inle  Orleans,  840  ;  ii,  110. 
IxleofJeHim,  2.')0. 
l8l.!  M<itte,  07. 
Isle  I'ie.  00;  ii,  177. 
Isle  of  Wijrht,  ii,  170. 

Ja4:kMon,  Col.,  ii,  18. 
Janiet)  river,  ii,  45. 
JanicHtown,  ii,  115.- 
Jott'erson,  (Jov.  TlioniaH,  ii,  UK). 
Jer«ev,  state  of,  ii,  57  ;   deHcriotion 

()f,  by  lien.  Ueid<'B*!l,  «0. 
John,  Fort  St.,  45,  57,  05,  235. 
John,  Kiver  St.,  45. 
John's  farm  (Ucudesul  encamps  at), 

Johnson.  Eiifflishconimissiouer,  ii, 

25,  40. 
Johnson,  Sir  John,  81. 
Johnson,  Sir  John,  reiriment  of,  ii. 


I  i.- 


Johnson.  Sir  William,  l;)5  ;  ii, 

150. 
Jones,  Cupt.,  10(>. 


11,0 


Jnnii,  frigate,  :)U. 

Katfnohantfue,  50. 

Keith,  Adj.  (Jen.,  225. 

Kellner,  Johann  V.  J.,  ii.  271. 

KenneU'c  river,  01. 

Kennedy,   Dr.  (Itieilesel's   fandly 

l>hvsi(-ian),  ii,  177. 
KepiH>r  Admiral,  Ii,  lii.  125. 
Kinderh(N>k,  214. 
Kintrsltridtfe,  05  ;  ii,  112,  100. 
Knes.'lHrk,  Fri.Hlriidi,  ii,  2«7. 
Kniphansen,  Fort,  12(1. 
Kniphaiisen,   (len.    Von.  05,  207; 

ii.  48,  85,  104,  210,  240. 
Knowlnnd's  ferry,  ii,  01. 
K(N-henhau8<-n.  \A.  Col.,  20U. 
Kohle,  Chaplain,  11,  272. 
Kohh-r,  \A.  Col..  20«.  207. 
Kolte,  Friedrleh,  ii.  2«8. 
Kolte,  Johann  ^J,  ii,  272. 
KonlK.  I'l<lmund  V.  Von,  ii,  208. 
Kos|K)th,Col.  Von,  20(1. 
Knn/.e,  CImplain,  11,273. 
Kurtz,  Lt.  Col..  207. 

\m.  Baltrin,  ii,  137. 

La  Haye,  11,  138, 

U  Chine,  81. 

LaColle,  75. 

La  Fonche,  ('apt.,  ii,  141. 

La  Madelain(>,  70. 

lia  Nome,  11,  137. 

La  Prairie,  45.  fl0;ii,  110. 

Fiiidy  Mary,  ship,  78. 

Ijufayette,  MuniulH  de,  Ii,  57,  115, 

103. 
Laneaster,  11,  03. 
Lancelot,  121, 

liUndsdowne,  Manpiis  du,  ii,  137. 
Lan^e,  Lt.  Col.,  207. 
Lan^erjahn,  Siejyfried  H.,  11,  208. 
Lanieres,  M.,  01. 
Iian<Kliere,  Capt.,  07. 
Ijitterlohe,  Maj  ,  ii,  108. 
Ijaurens,  Henry,  ii,  21. 
Laiiterbaeh,  ii,  100. 
L'Aijfh",  ship,  ii,  141. 
Lee,  Col.,  225;  ii,  13,  23. 
Lee,   Major  (Jen.,  44,  87;    ii.  %">. 

232.' 
Leecock  township,  ii,  50. 
Leesburjf  hiunlol,  ii,  02. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0    !t«-  li^ 


I.I 


I 

IS 


m 
m 

»40 


M 
M 
M 
1.8 


1-25      1.4      1.6 

•• 6"     

► 

Photographic 

Sdences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


,\ 


;V 


^<fe 


V 


^^ 


o 


A" 


^. 


^^. 


6^ 


4fs 


>"  C^ 


.•y 


280 


iNimx. 


L(!g.!r,  Col.  St.,  77,  i)8,  128,  130, 

l.W;  ii.  111. 
lidcester,  ii,  50. 
Lcnjrorkf,  Lt.  Col.  Von,  390. 
Lcnsburjf,  Ii,  12i5. 
LcMlic,  Ui-n.,  ii,  )»4,  2()7. 
Lfut/„Col.,  210,  ii,171. 
Lcxinjrton,  Imttli!  of,  17. 
Liifoiiit'-ff  Imv,  108. 
Lincoln,  Men".,  liSO,  157  ;  ii,8!),  205. 
Linsinjr,  Lt.  Col.,  200. 
Little  Di'iil,  triinsport,  ii,  105. 
Lohnej-Hi'ii,  Albirclit  1).,  ii,  200. 
Lonjr  i'slaml,  45  ;  ii,  8!),  112. 
L(M)M,   Maj.   Ocn.,   correspoiidciico 

of,  ii,'220. 
Urn-,  Col.  Von,  297. 
LoHborpr,  «en.,  ii,  48,  240. 
Lossbcrjr,  (^)l.  Von,  200. 
Loudon,  Lord,  ii,  125. 
Ijouis,  Sunt  St.,  50. 
Lovehu-e  (the  toi  y).  wkull  of,  170. 
Lowensti'in,  Maj.  Von,  290. 
Luc(!ran,  Marquis  de,  ii,  204. 
Liicko,  Major  Von,  210  ;  ii,95, 110, 

188,  208. 
Ludridgo,  Col.,  98. 
Ludwijj,  Duke,  ii,  84. 
Lttnebur«,  01,  240. 
Lutzow,  Aujjust  C.,  ii,  271. 

Machiius,  Major,  297. 
McLean,  Col.",  75,  2:$7  ;  ii,  148,  154. 
McKav,  Cai)t.,  92,  Hit,  154,  100. 
McKeii/ie.  Col.,  10;{. 
McCowen'H  |)aHH,  ii,  1 12. 
Maestre,  Maj.,  4(). 
Maiboni.Carl  C.,  ii,  270. 
Maiboni,  Major,  ii,  41,95, 18:{,  243, 

205. 
Manakessi  creek,  ii,  01. 
Manatomic,  ii,  13. 
ManchcBter,  120,  128. 
Marsh,  Col.,  ii,  135,  148. 
Massachusetts,  province  of,  ii,  17  ; 

description    of,    by    General 

Riedesel,54. 
Masserow,    Conunissary  General, 

ii,  11,33. 
Mathew,  <J<'n.,  ii,  191. 
Mathias,  Maj.,  297. 
Mechlenberjr-Hcliwerin,  ii,  234. 
Medford,  221  ;  ii,  13. 


Melzheinier,  Chajdain,  135  ;  ii,  200. 
Menjren,  Maj.  Von,  210;  ii,  40,  99, 

150,  183,  208,  270. 
Mereury,  ship,  ii,  135. 
Meyer,  Andn^as.  ii,  272. 
Meyer,  Friedrich  L.  E.,  ii,  209. 
Meyer,  Joliann  A.,  ii,  207. 
Me^yer,  Johann  II.,  ii,271. 
Meyern,  ,)ohann  .1.,  ii,  207. 
Meyern,  Ludwijj  (J.,  ii,  270. 
Miliiis,  J<d>ann  A.,  ii,  271. 
Milkau,  Christian  F.,  ii,  271. 
Miller,  Fort,  120,  127. 
Miller,  Jonathan,  125. 
Mininjrerode,  Lt.  Col.V(,n,  290, 297. 
M(Klrach,  Christian  II.,  ii,  209. 
Mohawks,  ii,  110. 
Monjje,  Maj.,  20. 
Montjjoniery,  Gen.,  43. 
Montjioniery,  Pa.,  ii,  59. 
Monongaliela  river,  ii,  253. 
Montmorency  falls,  ii,  175. 
Montreal,  38,  42,  235 ;  ii,  111. 
Morgenstern,  Carl  F.,  ii,  270. 
Morjrenstern,  Johann  C,  ii,  270. 
Morin,  Cupt.,  83,  100. 
Mdhlenfeldt,  Carl  A.  L.,  ii,  273. 
Muchhmfield,  Ensipn,  135. 
Muerbach,  Maj.  Von,  297. 
Milnchausen,  Maj.  Von,  297. 
Munchhoft;  Chaplain,  ii,  373. 
Muncy,  Fort,  ii,  140. 
Murray,  Mr.,  ii,  157. 
Muzeli,  Liid\vi<r  ('.,  ii,  207. 
Mylius,  Chaplain,  ii,  70,  177. 
Mystic  (near  Boston),  221 ;  ii,  13, 

23. 

Nepissinjts,  .50. 

Nern,  Maj.,  ii,  114. 

Newburjrh,  the  Convention  tr(M)p8 

cross  the  Hudson  river  at,  ii, 

57. 
Newfoundland,  40. 
New  Holland,  ii,  119. 
Newi)ort,85,  ii,  48. 
New  Providence,  ii,  59. 
New  York  (nty,  83  ;  fire  at,  ii,  43, 

48,  100, 120. 
Nt^w  York  stat<^  dvscri|>tion  of,  by 

General  Hiedesel,  ii,  50. 
New  Windsor,  ii,  125. 
NiajTiira.  95  ;  ii,  140,  108,250. 


INDEX. 


281 


Niger,  frifiato,  41. 
Nin(!  Partners,  ii,  54. 
Norfolk,  ii,  51. 
Nortlminpton,  340. 
Nortli,  Lord,  ii,  174. 
Nova  Scotia,  ii,  182. 

O'Connol,  C'apt.  and  Adj.,  00, 

ii,  428,  205. 
Oldeko])!',  Friedrieh  E.  ii,  271. 
Olers,  Capt.,  ii,  138. 
Orange  Court  Hbusi?,  ii,  02. 
Oswego,  ii,  108,  351. 
Ottawa  river,  59. 
Outanais,  50,  54. 

Pallas,  ship,  34. 

Palmer,  ii,  50. 

PajKit,  August,  ii,  371  ;  Friwlrich 
J.   ii,  301). 

Pater-Litth!,  ii,  00. 

Patterson,  (ion.,  ii,  135,  141,  153. 

PaiU's  (Paulus)  hook,  ii,  I'JO. 

Pausch,  Clapt.,  148. 

Payne,  Dr.  Charles  II.,  139. 

Pennsylvania,  state  of,  descrip- 
tion by  Gen.,  Kiedesul,  ii,  00. 

Penobscot,  ii,  129. 

Percy,  Lord  (Duke  of  Northum- 
berland), 237. 

Peterson,  Col.,  137,  201,  209. 

Petite  Marie,  112. 

Pfluger,  Johann  F.,  ii,  372. 

Philadelphia,  85. 

Phillips,  Col,  240. 

Phillips,  Gen.,  39,  08,  109,  121, 
140,  195,  330 ;  ii,  10,  10,  28, 
42,48, 50  ;  order  f)f,  07 ;  flashes 
with  Heath,  83,  93  ;  d<-ath  of, 
at  Peter8l)urg,  Va.,  94,190, 201 , 
237,  342. 

Pierre,  Lac  St.,  89;  ii,  117,  145. 

Pincier,  ChriHtinn  T.,  ii,  270. 

Pitchard,  Capt.,  ii,  101. 

Pitt,  Fort,  ii,  140,  250. 

Pittstown,  ii,  59. 

Plessen,  Leopold  F.  F.  B.,  ii,  271. 

Plymouth,  39. 

Poelnitz,  Adj.  (Jen.,  ii,  34. 

Poelnitz,  Cajrt.,  228  ;  ii,  25. 

Point  Au  Lac,  ii,  137. 

Point  Aux  Fer,  45,  05,  90;  ii.  131, 
134,  144. 


Point  Oliver,  parish  of,  ii,  113. 
Pollanl,  Lt.  Col.,  ii,  30. 
Pollnitz,  Julius  L.  A„  ii,  270. 
Portsmouth,  35  ;  ii,  179. 
Potomac,  ii,  01. 
Potter,  Maj.  Gen.,  ii,  140. 
Powell,  Hrig.  (Jen.,  57,  130. 
Praetorius,Lt.  Col., 20,77  ;  ii,  109, 

207. 
Pralle,  Chaplain,  ii,  271. 
Prescott,  Gen.,  ii,  10. 
Prevost,  (Jen.,  ii,  51,  183. 
Presqu'  Isle,  ii,  250. 
Prince  Frederick's  regiment,  122, 

230;  ii,  81,  109,139. 
Princeton,  80. 
ProsjK'ct  hill  (Boston),  ii,  0. 
Providence,  ii,  35,  187. 
Putnam,  (Jen.,  95. 
Puy,  Maj.,  297. 

(Quaker  Si)ring8,  village  of,  104. 
(iuelM'C,  38,   39,   41,   80;    ii,   108, 

130. 
Quelx-c,  ship,  ii,  178. 

Ral)e,  Albrecht  C.,  ii,  273. 
Kail,  Col.,  80,  297. 
Randolph,  Capt.,  ii,  70. 
Randolph,  Mr.,  ii,  241. 
Rantzau,  Ernst  A.  Von,  ii,  273. 
Kappahanmx'k  river,  ii,  02. 
Raritan  river,  90 ;  ii,  57. 
Rau,  Capt.  Von,  ii,  245. 
Rawdon,  ii,  194. 
Read's  house,  ii,  (i3. 
Reckrodt,  Carl  F.,  ii,  300, 
Redeken,  Friedrieh,  ii,  371. 
Red  house  (Fort    Edward),   Gen. 

Riedesel    occui)ies    it    as  his 

head  (juarters,  133. 
Reid,  Col.,  193.210 
Reiuerding,  Carl  \V.,  ii,  2()8. 
Reinking,  Cairt.,  135;  ii,  205. 
Reinking,  Friedrieh  C,  370. 
Reitzenstern,  (Jottlieb  C,  ii,  207. 
Reynolds,  Madame,  21 1. 
Rheims,  Lt.,  ii,  49. 
Rhenius,  Wilhelm  L.,  ii,  373. 
Rhetz,  regiuu'nt  of,  70,  133,  330 ; 

ii,  40,  81,  87,  109,  122,  138. 
Richmond,  ii,  71. 
Ri.hoh-t,  ii,  138. 


282 


INDEX. 


KiodoHol,  den.  writes  to  (}en. 
How*!  for  nssiBtance  on  behalf 
of  the  (Jcnnan  troops,  ii,  4 ; 
endeavors  to  i)romote  disci- 
pline anion};  the  tr<MJi)8,  5 ;  aj)- 
|)calB  to  Washington  for  an 
exchanjye,  10  ;  i)etition8  con- 
gress, 12 ;  returns  Burgoyne's 
thanks  to  the  Brunswick 
tr(X)p8,  14 ;  endeavors  to  re- 
strain gambling,  10 ;  and  pr(v 
mote  cleanliness,  32  ;  accom- 
panies the  first  division  as  far 
asWatertown  on  their  journey 
to  Virginia,  but  returns  for  the 
present  to  C'ambrldge,  49  ;  sets 
out  with  his  family  for  Vir- 
ginia, 56  ;  arrives  at  Fishkill, 
59 ;  arrives  in  Virginia  and 
hires  a  house  in  (jolle,  65 ; 
plants  a  garden  himself  and 
his  soldiers  follow  his  exam- 
ple, 69 ;  comes  near  losing  his 
life  by  a  sun  stroke,  70  ;  forms 
the  accjuaintance  of  Washing- 
ton's family,  71 ;  visits  Fre- 
derick's spring,  72  ;  sets  out  for 
New  York  but  is  obliged  to 
return  to  Bethlehem,  74 ;  ob- 
tains permission  to  go  to  New 
York,  70 ;  arrives  there,  77 ;  suf- 
fers under  severe  mental  and 
physical  depression,  83  ;  busies 
himself  with  the  exchange  of 
prisoners,  86  ;  receives  official 
news  of  the  death  of  his  sove- 
reign, Duke  Charles,  88  ;  is 
given  the  c(mimaud  of  Long 
island,  89 ;  issues  a  general 
pardon  to  deserters,  93  ;  corr  j- 
six)nds  with  Washington,  96 ; 
departs  with  his  family  for 
Canada,  106  ;  arrives  in  Que- 
lle, 108 ;  assumes  by  direction 
of  Ilaldimand  the  command 
of  the  trotjps  in  Canada,  and 
takes  up  his  quarters  at  Sorel, 
108  ;  reimrts  from  time  to  time 
to  Ilaldimand,  110;  sui^rin- 
tends  tlu'  fortifications  of  St. 
John,  113;  general  measures 
adopted  by  him  for  the  safety 
of  Canada,   1 17  ; 


UiiHlesel  (Jen.,  corrtispondenco 
with  Ilaldimand,  119-160; 
correspondence  with  Carleton, 
167 ;  receives  intelligence  of 
the  death  of  his  father, 
169 ;  receives  a  letter  fr<mi 
Lord  Nortli,  173 ;  visits 
Haldimand  at  Montmorency, 
175  ;  sails  for  England,  177  ; 
arrives  in  London,  179 ;  his 
wife  and  himself  take  tea 
with  the  royal  family,  180; 
writes  from  London  to  Duke 
Ferdinand  announcing  his 
near  return,  181  ;  reaches 
Wolfenbtlttel,  and  issues  a 
c(mgratulatory  circular  t«  his 
officers,  182  ;  arrives  in  Bruns- 
wick surrounded  by  an  im- 
mense and  joyous  concourse  of 
lx3ople,  the  duke  rides  out  to 
meet  him  and  welcomes  him 
back,  184. 

Riedesel,  Mrs.  Gen.,  133,  138,  211, 
217;  ii,  49;  holds  interview 
with  Lafayette,  58  ;  visits 
Frederick's  spring,  71 ;  starts 
for  New  York  city,  76 ;  visits 
at  Clinton  villa,  79 ;  moves 
to  Brooklyn,  94,  148  ;  buries 
her  little  daughter  Canada,  at 
Sorel,  167 ;  takes  tea  with  the 
royal  family  in  London,  180 ; 
arrives  at  Brunswick,  184. 

Riedesel,  regiment  of,  122,  230 ;  ii, 
81, 110, 138,  265. 

Rippenhaus,  ii,  114. 

Risboth,  46. 

Rittzbilttel,  37. 

Robertson,  Gov.,  ii,  135,  148. 

Rochambeau,  Count,  ii,  HI,  120. 

Roche  Fendtt,  72. 

Rwlney,  Sir  Charles,  ii,  207. 

Rohr,  CasiKjr  F.,  ii,  273. 

Roi,  Anton  A.  H.  ii,  271. 

Roi,  August  W.  Du,  ii.  208. 

Romanzow,  Field  Marsha',  236. 

Romrod,  Lt.  Col.  Von,  296 ;  ii,  249. 

Rosentorg,  Friedrich  A,,  267. 

Ross,  Maj.,  ii,  161,  213. 

Rouge,  CaiHi,  80. 

Royal  George,  ship,  ii,  113. 

Royal  Sauvage,  ship,  72. 


INDEX. 


283 


U\i(liili)lii<-,  Otto  II.  ii,  3(>(i. 

Ruth,  Lt.,  10!3. 

Rutland,  121 ;  ii,  30,  43,  47,  123. 

Sacrt'inent  Lac  St.  (Lake  (leorRe), 

97. 
St.  Agnace,  Cape,  ii,  229. 
St.  Antoine,  81 ;  ii,  137. 
St.  Charles,  57,  81. 
St.  Croix,  ii,231. 
St.  Dennis,  57,  81 ;  ii.  134, 138. 
St.  Francois,  ii,  112,  114, 138. 
St.  Jacob,  56. 
St.  John,  ii.  111 ;  fortifications  ot, 

113,  121, 141,  143, 159. 
St.  Lawrence  bay,  41. 
St.  Lawrence  river,  59,  89  ;  ii,  107, 

177. 
St.  Luke,  121. 
St.  Ours,  57  ;  ii,  134. 
St.  Paul's  bay,  ii,  110. 
St.  Sulpice  (Seminary  of),   50,  95. 
St.  Therese,  57,  99. 
St.  Vincent's,  ii,  202. 
Sander,  Jacob  C,  ii,  207. 
Sandwich,  Lord,  ii,  125. 
Saratoga  heights,  171. 
Saratoga,   treaty  of,  ii,  9,  40,  44, 

242. 
Saules,  54. 
Scaticokc,  192.. 
Schaeffer,  Lt.  Col.,  297. 
Schaoffer  Maj.,  297. 
Schattelius,  Max.  C.  L.,  ii,  272. 
Schenck,  Capt.,  91, 154. 
Schick,  Gottlob  D.,  ii,  266. 
Schieck,  Lt.  Col.  Von,  297. 

Schlagenteuffel,  Adolph,  ii,  266. 

Schlagenteuffel,  Capt.,  ii,  41,  49, 
109. 

Schlagenteuffel,  Carl,  ii,  265. 

Schlagenteuffel,  George,  ii,  271. 

Schlagenteuft'el,  Ludewig,  ii,  268. 

Schlemmer,  Lt.  Col.,  297. 

Schlieffen.  Col.  Von,  23. 

Schmid,  Capt.,  ii,  123. 

Schmidt,  Auditor,  ii,  369. 

Schmidt,  Maj.  Gen.,  296. 

Scluinewald,  Cornet,  ii,  148,  153, 
158,  266. 

Schrador,  Friedrich  W.  C,  ii,  268. 

Schrader,  Johann  F.,  ii,  26Jt. 

Schreiljer,  Col.,  296. 

36* 


Schrcvvogel,  Lt.  Col-Sft?. 
Schroder,  Ernst  C,  ii,  207. 
SclnUer,  Lt.  Col.  Von,  297. 
Schuyler,  Gen.,  119,212. 
Schuyler's  island,  125. 
Schuyler's    mansion    burned,  by 

Burgoym*.  1"0,  192. 
Schuyler's  mills,  171. 
Schuylkill,  ii,  59. 
Seits,  Col.  Von,  297. 
ShellK)rne,  I^ml,  ii,  137. 
Skeeno,  Col.  and  Gov.,  120,  131, 

258. 
Skoensborough  (White  Hall),  113, 

117, 123,  240. 
Skficnsborough,  Fort,  descriirtion 

of,  in  1777,  295. 
Sonimerlatte,  Otto  A.  Von,  ii,  2()«, 
Sorol,  46,  77,  81,  101 ;  ii,  108,  125, 

131,138. 
Southerland,  Lt.  Col.,  16»i,  208. 
SiHicht,    Brig.    Gen.,    ii,    47,  52, 

73,  100. 
SiKicht,  Col.  V(m,  26,  60  ;  ii,  4,  24, 

28,40,88,184,271,273. 
Specht,  regiment  of,  122,  230;  u, 
81,110,138,270. 

SiMJth,  Brig.  Gen.,  100,  148,  164, 
210 ;  ii,  270. 

SiKjth,  Ensign,  ii,  151. 

StHith,  regiment  of,  122  ;ii,  122,2.0. 

Spithead,  38. 

Springfield,  127. 

Spn)ut,  Col.,  ii,  238. 

Stade,  32  ;  ii,  180. 

Stanwix,  Fort,  128  ;  ii,  254. 

Stark,  Gen.,  137  ;  ii,  233. 

Staten  island,  95  ;  ii,  74,  112, 190. 

Stein,  Maj.  Gen.,  296. 

Sternberg,  Johann  C,  ii,  268. 

Stillwater,  128, 164,  214,  251. 

Stirling,  Lord,  ii,  190,  240. 

Stockbridge  Indians,  159,  192. 

Strover,  Mr.  Georg(!,  139,  176. 

Stutzer,  Cornet,  135  ;  ii.  26((. 

Sudbury,  ii,  49. 

Sullivan,  85  ;  ii,  37, 42,  187. 

Sussex  t^ourt  House,  ii,  58. 

Tamelslohn,  31. 

Tartar,  frigate,  51. 

Taylor's  house,  145. 

Temple,  Peace C<)mmisHioner,ii,  41. 


284 


1SI>EX. 


\M 


ThDinaH,  ('apt.,  lOa,  272. 
Tlioinas,    ("liark-H,     secretary    to 

Henry  Laurens,  ii,  21,  25,  44. 
Thomas,  Lt.  ii,  217,  206. 
Tliree  Mill!  Post,  111. 
Thre(!  Rivers,  08,  90,  !)3,  i)9,  121  ; 

ii,  114. 
Ticonderojra    (Carillon),    45,    97, 

121  ;  ii,  251. 
Tiiinumtli,  121. 
'\\^ffi'\.  Christian  T.,  ii,  209. 
Tokeken  river,  ii,  59. 
Triuiton,  86. 

Trinack,  Maj.  (len.  Von,  297 
Trott,  Christian  W.,  ii,  200. 
TrouiMs  Col.,  ii,  57,  59,  289. 
Tryon,  Gen.,  ii,  77,  85,  179. 
Tunderfeld.  Carl  A.  H.,  ii,  207. 
Twiss.  Capt.,  94, 113  ;  ii,  121,  132, 

158,  255. 

Ueltzen,  ii,  182. 
Ulilijf,  Heinrich  W.,  ii,  200. 
Ulmenstoin,  Samuel  J.  A.,  ii,  272. 
Unjyer,  Friedridi  B..  ii,  271. 
Unper,  Johann  L.,  ii.  209. 
Unver/,agt,  Ludwig,  ii,  270. 

Valency.  Capt.,  193,  227. 

Valley  Forge,  ii,  59. 

Venango,  ii,  253. 

Verplank's  point,  ii,  141. 

Villet,  Col.,  ii,  161, 

Virginia,  state  of,  description  of, 

by  Gen.  Riedesel,  ii,  60. 
Volkmar,  Friedrich  W.,  ii,  267. 
Vorstade,  31. 

Vorbrodt,  Chaplain,  ii,  266. 
Waldock,  61. 

Wallmoden,  Geblmrd  T.  F.,  ii,  267. 
Warner,  Col.,  120,  121. 
Warwick,  N.  Y.,  ii,  58. 
Washington,  Gen.,  43,  53,  85, 125, 

127,191,197;  ii,  4,  30,44,53, 

57,  08,  91,  100,  125, 129,  190, 

202,  232,  237,  258. 
Washington,  ship,  78.  90. 
Watcrtown  (Muss),  ii,  13,  4!(, 


W(!landa,  Capt.,ii,  141. 

Welferd,  Capt.,  227. 

Wells,  121. 

Welsh,  Alonzo,  139. 

Westminster,  ii,  47. 

West  Point,  ii,  125. 

West  Springfield,  215. 

Whipple,  Gen.  137. 

White  Plains,  bt>. 

Wiesener,  Christian  F.,  ii,  268. 

Wilbur's  basin,  146,  107. 

Wilkinson,  Gen.,  150. 

William  Henry,  Fort,  92. 

William,  Hereditary  Prince  of  lles- 
sia,  ii,  98,  101,  215. 

Williams,  Maj.,  195. 

Williamstown,  ii,  123. 

Willoe,  Capt.,  121,  147 ;  ii,  137, 
141,  148. 

Willford,  Lt.,  191. 

Winchester,  ii,  100. 

Winter  hill  (Boston),  the  Conven- . 
tion  troops  encamp  on,  210. 

Winterschimdt,  Gottfried  J.,  ii, 
207. 

Wolfe,  Gen..  240. 

Wolfenbilttel,  32,  35. 

Wolfenbttttel,  New,  ii,  40. 

Wolgart,  August  T.  G.,  ii,  270. 

Wolgart,  JoLann  F.,  ii,  267. 

Wol|)er8,  Paul  G.  F.,  ii,  268. 

Wo<k1  creek  (inlet  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain),  118, 124. 

Worcester,  216 ;  ii,  50. 

Wumib,  Col.  Von,  296 ;  ii,85,  245. 

Wurmb,  Maj.  Von,  296. 

Yager,  Heinrich,  ii,  271. 

Yamaska,  ii,  112, 114, 138. 

Yessop  (probably  Jessop),  after 
whom  Jessop's  falls,  N.  Y., 
are  named,  Capt.,  137,  154, 
353 ;  ii,  144. 

Yorktown,  ii,  71,  115. 

Zeilberg,  George  E.,  ii,  267. 
Zinken,  Carl  F.  W.,  ii,  271. 


4     't 


NOTE  BY  THE  TllANSLATOU,  MAY  33,  1808. 


os- 

sn-. 
ii. 


in- 


15. 


i4, 


The  reader  will  recall  the  circumstance  of  Burfj^oyne  directing 
lliedesel  (while  the  latter  was  at  Fort  Edward  on  his  way  to  join  the 
commander  in  chief)  to  bury  three  large  bateaux.  A  day  or  two 
since  I  found  the  sequel  of  this  order  in  a  very  interesting  narrative 
written  by  the  late  Jonathan  Eastman  of  Concord,  N.  H.,  in  regard  to 
Burgoyne's  campaign.  This  narrative  is  given  at  length  in  the 
Memoir  of  Genentl  Stark,  published  by  Luther  Itobyal,  at  Concord, 
N.  H.,  in  1831.    Eastman  says  : 

"  Just  below  Fort  Edward,  on  the  margin  of  a  small  brook  falling 
into  the  Hudson,  the  Americans  discovered  three  graves  neatly  turfed, 
having  at  the  head,  boaAs  inscribed  with  the  names  of  throe  British 
officers.  In  walking  over  them  they  sounded  hollow,  and  ujion  digging, 
the  soldiers  discovered  three  fine  bateaux,  each  capable  of  containing 
fifty  men.  They  were  well  covered  with  boards,  and  were  intended 
by  some  of  Burg9yne'8  party  to  aid  a  retreat." 

It  will  be  seen,  however,  by  referring  to  the  letter  of  Burgoyne  to 
Riedesel  (in  the  appendix  to  vol.  i),  that  Mr.  Eastman  is  mistaken  in 
supposing  that  the  bateaux  were  designed  to  facilitate  Burgoyne's 
retreat  should  that  become  necessary.  The  object  of  burying  the 
boats  (read  Burgoyne's  letter),  was  to  aid  St.  Leger  in  crossing  the 
Hudson  in  case  of  the  failure  of  his  expetlition  against  Fort  Stanwix. 

William  L.  !:5tone. 


